Business & Tech
Small Business Q&A: Horsetown
The Western and English riding apparel, tack and saddle retailer opened in 1973 on Shallowford Road. It now has four metro-Atlanta locations.
Family owned and operated enterprises are the exception to the rule in a time of big box retail. Horsetown founders Otto and Rosemary Meier are hands-on business owners. Other family members also work at the business.
Horsetown owns four locations in Greater Atlanta including three 'superstores.'
Daughter Karen Meier Pollard runs the Locust Grove store and the company website. She took a moment to answer a few questions.
Q. What's the best thing about your job?
A. Being near horses. My whole family rides.
Q. Why did you choose to open your business in Northeast Cobb?
A. We grew up on the property behind the store. My parents still live there.
Q. Why did you pick this kind of business?
A. I love riding horses and my dad didn't want to pay retail for stuff. My father was a cook by trade and he just got into it. We used to have 350 horses there.
Q. What are some of the services you offer that people don't know about?
A. Now we're retail only. We used to have all kinds of riding services and rentals. We had huge parties where everyone would ride into a cabin that had a big kitchen. It was a happening place. I'm dating myself, but people like Andy Gibb would ride there. All kinds of people would come for parties.
Q. How long have you been in business?
A. Horsetown opened in 1973.
Q. Do you have advice for anyone who'd like to start a small business in this area?
A. It's a lot harder to start a business today. There are more regulations and taxes and you have to know about technology. It seems that the government offices are less helpful to small business people than in the past.
Q. Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know?
A. We just kicked off a website.
Horsetown is located at 1231 Shallowford Rd. For more information, call 770-926-7346.