Michael (1)
prostonik_7 (1)
I received a press release the other day announcing the founding of ‘The North American Alpaca Federation’. Self-described as “an Alpaca-related sales and marketing initiative”.
Below is a manuscript of their goals, and ask for the general public’s opinion on how their efforts can best be maximized.
————————————————————————————————
The North American Alpaca Federation
Letter of Intent
We, the undersigned, wish to introduce you to a new and exciting alpaca-related sales and marketing initiative. The North American Alpaca Federation is an alpaca marketing livestock association.
The current economic, social, political and environmental issues impacting all of us in this ‘Third Decade of the Alpaca’ have opened our eyes to a vital need for a fundamental adjustment as to how we market and sell our alpacas, our alpaca businesses and related end products. We believe this ‘new economy’ mandates a focused approach to sales and marketing which is critical not only to thrive, as alpaca owners/breeders but also survive. In today’s challenging economy, the undersigned have been working diligently to bring the proper undertaking to fruition. Along with numerous alpaca owning volunteers scattered all over the US and Canada, we are a federation of like-minded alpaca owners who intend to focus exclusively on improving sales and marketing strategies, for all North American alpaca owners/breeders.
Our execution plans are straightforward. We will:
Ø Offer the opportunity to support every farm to increase sales while supporting an industry based on future productivity as well as creation of consumer goods, which we will infuse into the ‘Third Decade of the Alpaca’ in North America.
Ø Quickly roll out local face-to-face kitchen table breeder meetings addressing current economic conditions and showing breeders how to sell, increase sales, learn tried and true marketing strategies, and offer tools to manage/control costs and expenses.
Ø Participate as a value-added sales and marketing-focused organization to AOBA, ARI, AFCNA, AOBA affiliates, cooperatives and mills and especially the individual alpaca owner/breeder at the local level.
Ø Increase awareness, increase sales and build marketing and business know how through pen sales, educational programs and tools designed especially to address these topics. We offer NAAF liaisons to any and all organizations in the spirit of communication, sharing of ideas, and moving the alpaca livestock business forward.
Ø Attract and introduce potential new customers to alpacas, the business of alpacas and alpaca end products.
Ø Exploit the potential of any and all related financial benefits at the local level.
Ø Help sell new owners on alpacas.
Ø Facilitate growth of individual alpaca owner/breeder farms and herds, and thus grow our collective national herd. This strategy will increase sales for all, as well as increase the supply and demand for alpacas and their end products.
Our agenda is simple and clear – Make an immediate impact on sales.
Our strategies are clear:
Ø NAAF is about the alpaca owner.
Ø All alpaca owners are members of NAAF from day number one.
Ø NAAF will officially roll out our message, face to face, with alpaca owners by October 2009 with events like “Kitchen Table Talks”.
We, the undersigned of the North American Alpaca Federation, offer significant cumulative experience in virtually all aspects of alpaca breeding, sales, marketing and cost management. Our members include former AOBA board members, AOBA committee chairs, AOBA committee members, as well as active and experience ARI, AFCNA, affiliate, coops, and end product initiative volunteers. We, as a whole, represent over two hundred years of accumulated experience with alpaca breeding and sales and thousands of volunteer hours spent in various capacities in support of our industry. Our volunteers cast a large shadow on optimism and willingness to give of their time to build hope, growth and an expanded alpaca presence in North America.
Based on the results and analysis of the latest AOBA member’s survey, it has become clear to us that our industry is in a state of ‘crying out for direction’ and is begging for help with the closing of sales, refined and locally tweaked marketing strategies and cost containment. We, the undersigned, have the skills to address these needs and have been working aggressively in the background with key groups of like-minded individuals scattered throughout America and Canada to bring these skills to the local alpaca breeder face-to-face. Plans have been drawn up, teams built and schedules put in place to visit each region of the US and Canada over the next several weeks, to offer hope, reveal a roadmap for success, do damage control, offer immediate results and listen to our breeders’ needs to fine tune our offerings and support.
We all intend to continue working to grow AOBA, ARI and the other alpaca organizations, but we ask for your assistance in this endeavor, since we are YOU.
Respectfully,
Jim Patrick Steve Putney David Moran Jim Tomaszek Yumi Vaught
————————————————————————————————
Had lunch with Yumi and David Saturday. Interesting conversations and looking forward to hearing more as this new initiative unfolds. I think it is exactly what is needed at this time.
I'm all for any initiatives that increase alpacas' profiles and help our industry.
I do have a big concern as one of these individuals is well-known for undercutting breeders in their market. This really has hurt the market in that area, and it concerns me for someone who gives alpacas such a low value to be leading a charge. We don't have to sell alpacas for 1/4 what we paid for them.
In general, I would agree with your comments. However, in the current economic climate some alpaca owners are being forced to make some hard choices. If something like a job loss creates a situation where someone can barely afford to feed their family, let alone their alpacas, what would you recommend? Sell the alpacas for whatever price you can get? Sell them for bottom dollar at a livestock auction? Butcher the alpacas and eat them? While the option of riding out the recession may be a viable option for some, others are finding that a job loss or other unforeseen events necessitate the sale of their alpacas and other assets in order to survive. In situations like that, it would seem to be in the best interests for other people in the alpaca industry to help those who are at the greatest risk. Small breeders and those who have recently started alpaca farming and have the least amount of experience and connections are probably most at risk, and the most likely to create negative fallout for the industry if they fail. The spirit of cooperation instead of competition may be the best way to keep the alpaca industry as a whole healthy in the long run. It does not help to say "we are fine, so why are other people selling them so cheap". This is a prime example of thinking like "what is best for the health of the herd", instead of the health of just an individual. I would love to hear what ideas you have for helping to market alpacas.
Thank you!! I particularly like your comment about having a spirit of cooperation rather than competition among breeders. We are a small ranch and have found it very difficult to market our animals because we do not have many of the "highly promoted" bloodlines within our herd. We do however, have animals who are healthy, happy, have good conformation, bite and fineness of fiber. Two of the first questions we were asked when we entered the business was, "what bloodlines do you have in your herd" and "what ribbons have you won in the showring." As a result, we feel our animals are not as "good" as those from well-known bloodlines or who have won multiple show ribbons. To help promote our animals using a tool other than a bloodline, we have purchased the "The Alpaca Evaluation: A Guide for Owners and Breeders" from Boony Doon Press. It is virtually the same process that was used in South America to screen animals prior to export and is objective rather than subjective as is the case with shows.
I find Alpaca Farmgal's comments offensive and slanderious. I ask that she prove her comments with solid facts and proof. If you are going to make such comments, then you better have solid facts or face the potential of a law suit. Put up or face the consequences….______Patricks' Pastures__Jim Patrick__214-505-0754
I have spoke with Katy and she assures me she is not talking about me.
I just had an enlightening conversation with Jim Patrick of Patrick's Pastures. Jim told me that several people had called him and said that I had slandered him in my above comment.
I did not mention Jim and just wanted to make that clear.
all is fine…Katy is a nice person.