Manufacturing – employee growth
Rob Miavitz wears many hats. And gauging by success of his business, he wears them all pretty well.
The president and owner of Streetsboro-based Horsemen’s Pride Inc. balances those duties with that of bringing new products to market.
“When it comes to growth, I am the gentleman who constantly brings out the new product,” Miavitz says. “Innovation is key to new product development, and we are keen, as manufacturers, to continue to bring new products to the market. We are in two different industries, being the equestrian industry as well as the pet, and we usually introduce two new products per industry per year, which has helped drive our growth, (along with) continued customer support and being able to have stock of the product on the floor.”
Some of the new products that have led to the manufacturer’s growth are Jolly Goodies, horse treats made with natural ingredients, and The Jolly Egg, a dog ball released by Horsemen’s Pride’s Jolly Pets Inc. subsidiary. Founded in 1976, the company’s products have always been based on its understanding that pets are seen as another member of the family. The horse products, specifically, are designed for enrichment and general care.
Horsemen’s Pride’s drive and shift in innovative product selection has paid dividends in that the company has seen sales increase in three of the last four years. In those three years, sales went up 21 percent. Those sales also meant an increase in the company’s profit margins and product volume.
Hitting peak numbers allowed Miavitz and Horsemen’s Pride to stop outsourcing many of its products and to bring the manufacturing in house. The shift in manufacturing has meant an employee increase of 186 percent in the last four years and the addition of local jobs during high unemployment. In 2009, Horsemen’s Pride employed 20 employees. For about every five jobs in the factory, one is added to front-office operations.
The manufacturer helps the regional economy by using local vendors. For Miavitz, doing business with local companies provides accessibility for visits and communication, especially in the event of a problem, and will play a key role in Horsemen’s Pride’s future development.
How to each: Horsemen’s Pride Inc., (800) 232-7950 or www.horsemenspride.com
