Mulder's Saddlery and Shade Sails

www.mulderssaddlery.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

Mulder's is a family business that has been operating out of Caulfield, Melbourne for over 100 years. We are both a saddlery, with a huge range of horse gear and clothing, and manufacturers of top-quality shade sails, tarpaulins, covers and custom-made canvas goods. Our fabrics include amongst others the fantastic shade cloth Commercial 95, and Vistaweave - a PVC coated polyester mesh, which is nice and fine, looks lovely and keeps out 95% UV light! On the saddlery side we stock leading brands such as Stubben, RM Williams, Musto, Windsor Apparel, K. Ritchies, Zilco and of course our own Mulder's made canvas rugs. Our friendly staff are all very knowledgable, and can help you out with any of your horsey needs.

2. When and why did you start your business?

We started as a saddlery in 1895, and in making our own canvas rugs, branched out into other canvas products. The company manufactured a broad range of saddles and saddlery items catering for the demands of horse drawn transport, stock work, the equestrian market and the growing racing industry. Its close proximity to Caulfield Race Course lead to the production of race saddles, bridles and associated equipment. Horse harness for horse drawn transport, included that made for Richmond Brewery and Carlton & United Brewery, dairies and bakeries. Heavy harness was also manufactured for use in agriculture, such as for ploughing. The canvas side of the business was gradually developed during the 1930's, initially with horse rugs and then growing into a wide range of canvas products including tents, truck canopies and awnings. During World War II G.V.Mulder was declared an essential industry for the war effort. Canvas products manufactured at this time included military kit bags, canvas water bags, life jackets, canvas gaiters, canvas packs, canvas haversacks, tents, shelter tents, hospital marquees, canvas buckets, tool bags, web anklets, tarpaulins, gun covers, and pouches. Over recent decades Mulders has continued to develop its standing in all aspects of the equestrian, saddlery, canvas and synthetic product markets, making a unique contribution to the equestrian industry, the defence forces, the horse racing industry, the transport industry, the camping industry, the shade sail and awning industry, various sporting industries and numerous other areas. When George Mulder died in 1974, the business was carried on by his two sons, Victor and Terry, who still operate it as a family business today.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with of your business?

Mulders has reached the significant milestone of 100 years, and we are still going strong. We are as renowned for quality and service now as we were in 1909, and can still boast the same remarkable level of craftsmanship and quality in all our goods. We have our own workshop above the store where we manufacture by hand everything we produce, using Australian materials. We view all of this as fantastic achievements!

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

The major challenge our business has faced is maintaining a level of public awareness. Many people simply assume, because we are not a chain like many saddleries, that we have faded out of existence. We also are a little dwarfed sometimes by the buying power and advertising of the same big chain saddleries like Horseland and Saddleworld.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

We have found that getting out and about with a trade stand at competitions and festivals has been helpful, increasing our visibility. Moreover, our websites in the last few years have brought in a lot of interest.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

Mail drops did not really seem to help a lot...

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

The fact that Mulder's is still a family business, and operating from the same premises after all these years. Also, the range of products that we have in the saddlery is lovely!

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

Small businesses, especially local businesses, really inspire us - its lovely to think that in a world where communication has become global, and people can buy things in from overseas, that there is still a place for the little folk!

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

We recently started stocking a new brand from England - Musto - which is currently enjoying its first season in Australia. It would be great to be known for big, quality brands like this. So, we plan to work to achieve this! With the shade sails, we are starting to take on much larger and more complex jobs a lot more regularly, as well as continuing with the residential jobs we are known for locally. It would be great to keep expanding like this. And as a goal, we would love to win the annual ACASPA award for shade sail projects!

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Quality is always worth it! Whether it is something you are buying, selling or making, it will always pay off in the long run. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well!

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