[Alpacasite] Re: Reading posts

Lea,

I read somewhere that you should begin marketing 2-3 years before
you even have alpacas to sell. Marketing is not my area of
expertise, but for something like $9.95/year and $10-12 a month, you
can have your own website if you're willing to do it yourself. Some
companies have easy to use web publishing software for free or a
small fee. I do my own website, it's simple and I am able to
customize it on my time. I like the "homey" look to my site, but
others may prefer a more polished look and it's easy to do on some
of the software. I also have designed my own business cards, logo
and stationary using Microsoft Publisher, I attend as many shows as
I can and try to introduce myself to other breeders, I've joined
Calpaca, and AOBA and have my site linked on several different sites
for livestock, farming, fiber and fiber arts.

I spend perhaps 2 hours per week, taking and editing pictures,
updating my website and uploading the updates (if I had DSL or
Satellite, it would be less time ~ good old dial up!!) When the
time gets closer to having animals for sale, I think that I'll spend
much more time with marketing

As far as caring for my alpacas, I have 12 right now in 3 seperate
large pens. It takes less than 1/2 hour per pen to rake old hay,
scoop poop and dump it in the compost pile, change out food (give
the uneaten stuff to the sheep and put new feed in), clean the
automatic waterer and wash the mineral bowl. I give the girls
pellets everyday and I stay in with them while they are eating them
because I want the cria to be use to my presence so the girls pen
takes a little longer. It takes my husband and I 3 hours once per
month to weigh everyone, check teeth and trim if needed, trim
toenails, pull blood, give shots etc. We do have a chute which
takes more time but saves a ton of effort, especially for the
alpacas that immediately cush when you touch their feet. I have
several of those.

By far the majority of my alpaca care time is spent taking pictures,
enjoying their antics, talking with them, moving them out for a run
then watching how overjoyed they are to be running, watching them
explore each other and the field. Nothing else gets done when the
guys are out playing. Tonight my girl Shawnee was leading the two
cria around their pen, Full Pronk!!!! I've never seen her pronk
before. Dinner was late getting on the table... It was worth it.

Enjoy your alpacas....

Janice Mortimer
Sandy Acres Alpacas
Escalon CA
www.sandyacresalpacas.com
www.camelidemergencynetwork.com
209-505-2959
--- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Sakelik" <rsakelik@v...>
wrote:
>
> Lea,
>
>
>
> I think the 50 hour comment was a tongue in cheek comment. We have
around 40
> alpacas (been in the business for 12 years) and it takes us ~1.5
hours of
> cleanup/feed care per day and as much time as you want to spend
doing
> marketing/sales promotion. Since you are in it for the long haul I
imagine for now
> your time at marketing /sales would be limited. My only suggestion
is that you get
> your ranch name out there, ASAP, so people know who you are
whether or not you have
> animals to sell so that when you are ready people will know you.
Marketing is an
> interesting activity and one that can be approached in many
different ways
> successfully. If you have any questions you may email me privately
for further
> comments so as to not clog up the site. I am happy to help! ;-)
>
>
>
> Good luck!!
>
>
>
> Rich
>
>
>
> Richard & Marge Sakelik
> Alpaca Forest Ranch
> 19025 SW Hillsboro Hwy
> Newberg, OR. 97132
>
> (H)503-628-1220 (Fax)503-628-CRIA (2742)
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
> Home of Top Quality Sires from our famous Accoyo Sara/Accoyo
Victor line......
> Victor's Valedar, Victor's HemiAccoyo Viking, Sonora's Accoyo
Ferrari, Samara's
> Accoyo Platinum & Samara's Accoyo Samurai
>
> Visit them at www.alpacaforestranch.com
>
>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
<<<<<<<
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> llauletta
> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2005 8:47 AM
> To: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Alpacasite] Reading posts
>
>
>
> I have been reading posts about people getting into the industry.
I
> am ready to mak emy forst purchase, now I am scared to death. I
vist
> farms went to seminars and I will get support form my purchaser. I
am
> financing my starter package and I do not need to make a profit
right
> away. It is long term for me. I read someone's [pst who said 50
hours
> a wk input time yikes! I plan on spending a lot of time with my
new
> investment, but I also work. I am gettin 3 preg and a cria. So
wish
> me luck on my new adventure.
> Lea
> Willaimstown, NJ
>
>
>
>
>
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