I remember working with a business owner during the disco era heydays who was opening a new nightclub. He had his concept and wanted to see the club designed with that notion in mind. As you would expect, there were lots of lights, mirror balls, a good sound system, and a fancy DJ Booth. Finally, even his resources were beginning to dwindle. Our final discussions came down to whether or not he would have a bar built with a lighted aquarium built into the bar front or he would update the bathrooms. Well, he got the aquarium bar (it was his money, after all) and was closed and out of business within two months. There were probably a lot of reasons for this, but I always thought the bathrooms (one stall for men and one small stall for women) were a larger factor than he imagined. This was later confirmed to me by some people--well, actually, some of the women who had gone to his club. One even told me that after standing line, she at least expected the door to shut completely.
This, of course brings me to barn bathrooms. maybe you are the lucky one with a nice facility, but many are half-built, almost like an afterthought. Cracks, openings, poor cabinets, and tiny areas abound. At times, the first thought is to look around and see where Mr. No Shoulders is curled and wonder if he will crawl in and out of that hole while you are inside. I probably don't need to mention heat or cleaning at least as regularly as the stalls are picked.
A bathroom is one of those amenities that all barns need. This isn't necessarily just a dash in and out place for men only. There will be guests, mothers (who are likely writing the checks for their children), and even great boarders who need a place to freshen up from time to time. It is not a costly fix if you already have a bathroom. At least use some good lighting, seal the holes, remove the old cabinet for a pedestal sink, and trim the walls and paint them. Get an exhaust fan that works and think about one with a heat lamp. It will cost a little, but less than losing a boarder for a couple of months. Remember, part of the reason someone is "going to the barn" is having a chance to socialize with people we like and spend some time relaxing--every minute there is not spent working with the horse.
There are endless little customer amenities and finishing touches needed by all people in the horse business. Do that one little additional thing (called good customer service) that leaves your customer feeling at ease and comfortable with your services. This doesn't have to be (and should not be) a costly item for you. Consider how you present your services and products, how you deliver them, and what touch you could add to this. A little something extra, laginappe as our friends in Louisiana would say, accomplishes a lot in building good will. Imprinted pens are simple gifts used by many businesses. Whatever you do, find a way to achieve this. You can build in the cost of this small item from the start as you plan your business.
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