Saddlery Business
When farmer's daughter Julie Gwillim saw an advert for a month's training in saddlery five years ago, little did she realise that it would lead to her running a highly successful saddlery business today.
From a Welsh farming background, Julie has always kept horses and when she married and later moved to Garway in Herefordshire nine years ago her interest in horses continued.
She explains: “I was always trying to find somewhere to get a bit of tack repaired or somebody to make something up locally. But there wasn't anywhere really and I felt there was a niche in the market.
“I had lots of contacts from events and at first my interest in saddlery was something of a hobby. But after an initial four-week training course I went to a trade fair and on the Countryside Agency stand there was an apprentice saddler stitching away, and they had information about examinations and the apprenticeship courses that they ran.”
Although Julie had found her introductory four-week course valuable, she could not afford to continue paying for training herself and a funded three-year apprenticeship to a master saddler was a coveted opportunity. With great determination Julie pestered the tutor and was finally offered a place.
With a husband and young son, Julie was able to work family commitments around the weekly course every other month, and by the third year she was gaining confidence and experience.
“Because you had a week's training, you'd come home and put it into practice; or if you were stuck with something someone had brought to you, next time you went to the course, they'd go through and show you what to do.
“I set up my own business five years ago with the knowledge I had from my initial month's training course. But I've learned so much more and in greater depth from the apprenticeship.”
Business comes through word of mouth and Julie also advertises in the local riding club news sheet which covers a wide area.
“It's very horsey round here and fortunately I seem to be the only one in the business locally. I make things to order as well as doing repairs.”
She explains: “I can't compete with the mail order catalogues – the supermarket type saddleries. They buy in their goods and the quality of imports is getting better, and of course it's much cheaper.
“It's a worry, but you just have to find your niche again. They can't pop out to see someone's horse, measure it up and kit it out with an individual show bridle or a head collar. I offer a service. I can offer my customers something that they can't get by just opening a catalogue.”
Julie was recently awarded a bursary and certificate given by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers for her outstanding efforts and achievements during her apprenticeship training.
As part of her future plans Julie intends to open a new workshop, which she feels will be much more professional and customer-friendly.
“I would also like to do more specialised work, different to the usual saddlery. I'm interested in case work – I have made a hunting horn case for the local hunt and an oboe case for a friend of mine who's in an orchestra. It's a bit more artistic and creative. I think that's the route I will go down to stay ahead.”