Behind the Scenes of the Saddle Industry with Dan Crates: An Interview with the Horse Saddle Shop
HorseSaddleShop.com catches up with Dan Crates for an insider's opinion of the current status and success of the saddle industry. Dan Crates is president of Crates Saddlery, which produces high-end western saddles at competitive price. Mr. Crates has over 50 years of experience in the industry.
Bremen, IN (PRWEB) July 20, 2007 -- Every western enthusiast knows that the products they use are in the dwindling manufacturing class of handmade goods. A saddle requires precise craftsmanship done by hand by a professional. But who are the ones behind the business? What goes on behind the scenes of the saddle industry and how has it changed over the last few decades?
Let the Horse Saddle Shop introduce you to Dan Crates, president of Crates Saddlery. Crates' saddle and tack business creates high-end western saddles that compete with even the biggest names in the industry. But despite his family's legacy and success, Dan Crates is a laid-back, humble person who is surprisingly easy to talk to. We caught up with him to get his take on how the saddle industry has changed over the years and how it's faring today.
Crates Saddlery began as a family business in 1930. Dan Crates' father was a farmer in Ohio who moved south in the Great Depression. He purchased a small saddlery and harness shop that grew to be the largest producer in the world. Sold in 1980, Crates leather started in 1981 and continues to be a family company. His father's era included names like Raymond Potts, the original owner of Potts Longhorn leather company (the Longhorn Billy Cook saddle), Bill Manning of Tex Tan, and Bona Allen, run by the Allen family. Dan Crates is one of the few of their sons left in the industry. Now quite a few of those companies are run by investors.
Another change from that generation is that the industry has specialized into segments. Crates explained, "In the old days we were called manufacturing "jobbers." We made saddles and tack and "jobbed" everything from bits to saddle soap." Today companies have branched off to specialize in a particular product, from bits to spurs. Crates believes that competition and specialization have produced a better product, especially in the area of saddle pads.
As far as the actual production of the saddle, Crates assured us that saddles are "just as handmade as they were in the last generation." It takes an average of about 15 total hours over a period of 1-2 months to make a saddle. The saddle trees have become a bit more modern with the addition of the Ralide tree. On the other hand the Equi-fit fiberglass covered wood tree is nearly on hundred years old and the rawhide tree dates back to Ghengis Khan. "You have to remember that up until the steamboat and the railroad man moved at the speed of a horse. And that was it. Modern transportation is not very old," explained Crates.
Crates saddlery produces high-end western saddles, but America continues to import many western saddles. However, Crates explained that the imported saddles tend to "gravitate toward the lower end of the market" and fail to compete with his products. The quality of labor, materials, and workmanship all make Crates' a better saddle and keep the imports at bay. Crates reported that each year his company tends to sell more expensive products, with an increase of 5-10% yearly demand. His company's biggest growth area is the team roping, trail, pleasure, and reining saddles.
Other factors that affect the saddle industry are the high prices of hay, feed, and gas. Corn and beef prices also continue to rise. "When you're only getting ten miles to the gallon pulling a horse trailer, the price of gas when going to shows can keep people home," explained Crates. Leather prices also affect the industry. Saddles are dependent on the leather, a byproduct of the beef industry, so the price of leather is heavily dependent on supply and demand. However, the saddle industry is small one, with a limited amount of people participating, making it a small percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Crates remains positive and has every reason to believe that the industry will "have a steady growth, as far as I can tell, as a sport."
To browse the Horse Saddle Shop's selection of Crates saddles, visit HorseSaddleShop.com.
See the entire interview with Dan Crates, visit Q & A with Dan Crates.
About the Horse Saddle Shop:
The Horse Saddle Shop first started selling saddles in the small town of Bremen, Indiana in 1986 under the name The Saddle Shop. They served the Northern Indiana and surrounding areas until their expansion to the Internet in January of 2000. Since then, HorseSaddleShop.com has become a major saddle dealer across the nation, expanding to horse owners of many friendly countries.
Contact:
Chuck Klockow, Co-Owner
Horse Saddle Shop
1-866-880-2121
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com
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