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Shor-Line Honored as Kansas Exporter of the Year

Posted on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 @ 01:11 PM

 

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Shor-Line was named the Kansas Governor’s Exporter of the Year for 2018. The annual award honors a Kansas company that has exhibited excellence in conducting international trade.

“We are thrilled to be named Exporter of the Year. This award is a testament to the hard work of everyone at Shor-Line, both overseas and in the Kansas City office. Our grandfather who founded Shor-Line in 1927 and our parents who guided the business for many years would be proud indeed,” said Richard Donahue, Chairman of the Board.

This award recognizes the company’s international business activities that began over five decades ago. These efforts accelerated in 1985 when current company President, Joe Schroer, headed overseas to establish a related sales and warehousing operation in the United Kingdom. Reflecting on this strategic move, Mr. Schroer commented that: “Expansion into Europe allowed us to have persons dedicated to the Shor-Line brand who were more geographically and culturally aligned with our developing customer base.”

Shor-Line today has an extensive international distributor network and related operations not only in the UK but also in China. Solid market shares exist in Europe, Australia, Canada and Mexico. In Asia, Shor-Line has long serviced customers in Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. New export opportunities continue to develop especially in various Central and South American countries.

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Shor-Line Ownership: (l-r) Joe Schroer, president, Richard Donahue, Chairman of the Board; Jack Donahue, Executive Vice President.

As a third generation privately held business, Shor-Line’s management team sees international expansion as a very important part of its business plan. Emphasis will be placed not only visiting our trade partners but also on attending international trade shows to better understand foreign markets and develop new business relationships.

As the company moves through its 91st year in business, the future is quite bright especially with the continuing evolution of societal views on animal welfare. With this trend accelerating internationally and enhancing the standards for the treatment and care of pets, demand will only increase for quality companion animal products such as those made by Shor-Line.

Shor-Line has made its name in international circles through the dedication of its employees and international partners. With the continued support of these associates, the company is excited to participate in the future growth of the veterinary and animal care businesses internationally.

 

 

Tags: veterinary equipment, veterinary, Shor-Line, Shor-Line Happenings

Don't Let Your Halloween Discount Vanish!

Posted on Mon, Oct 30, 2017 @ 09:08 AM

www.shor-line.com/yearendsale

Shor-Line's Year End Sale gives frightfully good savings on the products you love best. Plus we offer an extra $50 on orders of $1,000 or more (excluding shipping and handling or taxes). It would haunt you to miss these extra savings. To download an electronic sale flyer, click here. This sale only applies to the U.S. only and runs through Jan. 5, 2018.

Our 90th anniversary brings out special deals for some of our newest and legacy products. You can find a complete list of products here. Prices ending in 27, representing Shor-Line's founding in 1927, and we are offering extra special savings for these.

DSC00903-Edit-1.jpgThe Prelude LED Wall Mount Exam Light joins the Prelude family of LED lights. Its sleek styling dresses up any exam room and its 40,000 LUX maximum (100% high, 50% low) give you instant illumination for a closer look and client education.

Its color temperature of 4500°K delivers outstanding visual clarity to aid diagnosis and the LED lights keep the room from heating up. And, the 75,000 hours of burn life means it will be years before you change a bulb.

Also available in Ceiling Mount and Mobile. See what Prelude LED Exam Lights are on the Year End Sale here.

We know you love our accessories, so we have extra special stock-up savings prices. Cage Valets, Stainless Steel Card Holders and Cage Dividers are just some of the offerings. To learn more about the accessories on sale, click here.

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Also check out the Shor-Line Clearance Outlet here. Although these prices don't receive additional discounts, there are overstock, returned and discountinued items that you can buy for a steal!

Happy shopping!

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Tags: Animal Care, Shor-Line, Veterinary Lighting, Veterinary Exam Lights, cage valets, stainless steel card holders, veterinary housing

Choosing an LED Exam Light

Posted on Thu, Jul 13, 2017 @ 08:13 AM

The need for an alternative to harsh overhead halogen lights has opened the door for higher quality exam lights. Shor-Line’s new Prelude LED Exam Light provides the style and performance of the Prelude LED Surgery Light in an exam and treatment unit.

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Simply, it delivers better color temperature, a cooler working environment and long-life light bulbs. Many veterinarians are involving the pet owner more in explaining issues, such as skin rashes, ear infections and tooth cleaning.

Having a good, professional light available to put the spotlight on the issue helps. Turn the light on for the discussion and turn it back off to keep the room calm and comfortable.

But how do you know the difference in exam lights? Stepping back from the aesthetics of what looks good in the room, there are three performance measures to consider:

  • Intensity. This determines the amount of light delivered to the area you are illuminating, such as a skin rash. This is measured in foot-candles, which in the olden days was the amount of light a candle emitted at one foot. It is considered an imperial measure (think pounds and inches). LUX is a more common light intensity measurement these days. It is the amount of light that falls on a surface one meter away from a candle. Essentially the same concept. This is the most important measurement for medical lighting.

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  • Color Rendering. The accuracy in which light illuminates an area is measured by CRI (color rendering index). After intensity, this is the most important consideration. How a color renders, especially in the critical red spectrum, is critical to your ability to diagnose accurately. High CRI scores give you excellent viewing in the red spectrum.
  • Color Temperature. This measures how the color appears or the whiteness of the light, and it is calculated in degrees Kelvin. As a means of comparison, a candle has a “warm” light with a color temperature in the warm range of 2500°K and the midday sun rates 6200°K in the cool range.

    The goal for medical procedures is to provide the optimum balance between bright light and accurate color for animal tissue. Red and yellow light shows up best in the 3500°K range but it can be fatiguing. A cooler light profile can be easier on the eyes, which is why surgeons prefer lights closer to 5000°K.

The key to choosing the right exam light in today’s modern veterinary practice means determining how you are going to practice. Some are adopting the new low-stress techniques that dim halogen overheads and have a more hand-on approach with pets and their owners. Others do exams and diagnosis in the back treatment area and consultations with pet owners in the exam room. 

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The new Prelude LED Exam Light has application in both areas.The switch easily toggles from high (40,000 LUX) to low (20,000 LUX). It has a CRI of 90 and a color temperature of 4,500°K, balancing the need for good light intensity and accurate color for medical needs.

The durability and dependability of Shor-Line go into the new Prelude light. Its sleek design will handle years of adjusting and positioning. And one of the main benefits of LED lights is that it will be decades before you have to worry about changing a light bulb. This 11-bulb unit will serve for 75,000 hours under normal veterinary use.

Whether it lives in the front or back exam areas, the new Prelude LED Exam Light could be the best lighting investment you make this year.

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Tags: Animal Care, Shor-Line, Veterinary Lighting, Veterinary Exam Lights

Shor-Line Named Finalist for Governor's Exporter of the Year 2017

Posted on Thu, Jun 08, 2017 @ 02:43 PM

Shor-Line was proud to be named as one of four finalists for the 2017 Governor's Exporter of the Year Award. The Kansas Department of Commerce selected the finalists and the final winner following an extensive review of the company's work in growing international business.

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"The Governor's Exporter of the Year Award proudly celebrates the successes of Kansas companies that excel in exporting and growing their communities," according to the department's news release. "It encourages the growth of the state's international commerce by showcasing successful exporters as role models to the Kansas business community. The recipients are prime examples of how exporting is a significant catalyst for company growth and diversification."

Twelve Kansas companies were nominated for the 2017 Exporter of the Year award. The four finalists were:

  • Shor-Line
  • Bergkamp, Inc.
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  • KSi Conveyors, Inc.

The finalists participated in several presentations and site reviews. Shor-Line has been growing its global animal health product business for several decades, creating a strong presence in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Asia.

"We feel proud to be selected as a finalist and be recognized as one of the top Exporters in Kansas," said Rick Donahue, Chairman of the Board for Shor-Line. "It is gratifying to see the global demand rapidly growing for the Shor-Line brand. We take pride in our craftsmanship, and our quality products have developed a global reputation."

Lee Aerospace of Wichita, Kan., won the Governor's Exporter of the Year Award for 2017 at a banquet presented June 6.

 

Tags: Animal Care, Shor-Line

Shor-Line's Coveted Cages are ON SALE!

Posted on Mon, May 16, 2016 @ 11:50 AM


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Shor-Line's famous Stainless Steel Cages (60" wide and smaller) are all on sale until June 30, 2016 (U.S. only.) This cage sale only comes along once a year, and it is a great time to pull the trigger on a remodel or add a specialty cage. 

Just to make the deal sweeter for spring, all cage accessories are on sale as well. So, if it fits in, on or attaches to a stainless steel cage, it is on sale. (Did I mention that includes CAGE VALETS?!)

Shop the sale!

When people ask, "Are ALL cages really on sale?", the answer is pretty simple...any stainless steel cage 60" wide or smaller is on sale. AND accessories are on sale. Most people are familiar with our durable, cages reinforced with a 1"-square tube frame. (More features information here.)

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But people are less aware of the different specialty cages we offer to help keep pets protected and secure. For example, our Stainless Steel Cat Suite was developed in consultation with University researchers. It features feline friendly features, such as Quiet Closing Latch, interior polymer resting shelf and our quiet closing hinge. The Double Unit with Platform (902.0103.24, shown below)
provides 18.7 square feet of living area.

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Finally, there are the cage accessories. From Quiet-Time cage covers to PVC coated cage floors, all the accessories are also on sale. 

This is a great time to add some cage valets or food and water bowls.



DON'T LET THE CAGE DOOR SHUT ON YOU!

Call your friendly Shor-Line sales representative at 800-444-1579 or go on our website to request a quote. Be sure to say you want the Cage Sale pricing!!

 

Happy shopping!



 

Tags: veterinary equipment, Shor-Line

Year End Sale Time is Here at Shor-Line!

Posted on Mon, Oct 05, 2015 @ 10:40 AM


Every year with the coming of cooler Midwest evenings, we look forward to sharing our Year End Sale with our loyal customers and (hopefully) some new friends. This sale includes some great buys on some of your favorites as well as some good pricing on products that fill special needs.

 

 

Facility by Shor-Line is our theme this year because we will show you room by room how we can help. The sale is on now and will continue until Jan. 5, 2016, and it is open to U.S. residents only. Get your digital copy here.

 

A Little New and Lots of Favorites

It has been a busy year of introductions at Shor-Line. Here are some of our newest products, and we have added some special pricing:

Some Special Deals as a Thank You

We traditionally provide some special "thank you" items at Year End. This year we have these special deals:

  • Standard Mobile Anesthesia machines are priced to give you a durable, dependable mobile unit right around the $2,000 price point.
  • Combination Grooming Packages give you an Elite Grooming Table and an Elite Grooming Shower or Tub with a selection of free tools, a caddy and a faucet.
  • The Blue-Line Mat is specially priced during this sale at $24. It is designed for our Blue-Line table line, but we've been told it works well to place on the floor when you examine a pet on its level.

A Halloween Special

This sale is so popular that we want to encourage you to order early. So, we are offering an additional $50 off of orders of $1,000 (excluding shipping, handling and taxes) or more if you place your order with a sales representative by Oct. 31, 2015

As a Treat for you, we are introducing the new Shor-Line Outlet website. We've finally cleared out our warehouse and are making overstock, discontinued and slightly damaged products available for great prices. Learn more here. Our plan is to continuously add to the Outlet, so sign up for the monthly email alert and return frequently!


REMEMBER:

The Year End Sale fades away with the turn of the new year, so order NOW for best selection and remember to visit shor-line.com/yearendsale or call 888-551-4062 to place an order!



 

Tags: Shor-Line, Promotions

Millennials and Optimism: Exciting Kickoff to 2015

Posted on Fri, Jan 30, 2015 @ 02:28 PM

There was electricity in the air at the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) that was palatable despite the cool January temperatures. The economic cloud of the Great Recession has lifted for most in the veterinary field. It felt like a celebration.

Research tells us there is a lot to celebrate. Millennials (18-35) are bringing pets into their lives at rapidly increasing raNew_sales_blog_115tes. In fact, dog ownership by Millennials and GenX is higher than the Baby Boom generation.

All this is great news for companion animals because Millennials are taking the human-animal bond to new heights. They are most likely to consider their pets as children or “furry babies.”

This comes at a time when veterinary medicine can do more than ever to increase the health and longevity of our best friends. It truly is a golden age to be a pet!

Those of us in the animal care industry—veterinary, grooming, boarding, daycare and training—have the challenge of meeting the needs of this new generation of pet owners. And yes, it will be important to heed the call of the Millennials.

This will be the year the Millennials overtake the Baby Boomers as the largest living generation. Tempered by the Great Recession and nurtured by Baby Boomer and Gen X parents, Millennials bring passion to their jobs, caution in their approach and technological savvy.

At Shor-Line, we’ve benefitted from bringing in three new Sales team members—all veterinary technicians with several years of clinical experience. All of them have the energy, expertise and savvy that Millennials bring to seemingly every endeavor.

We continue to listen to you as we innovate and improve our products. Check out our new products in the new Shor-Line catalog

We can’t think of a better time to be in the animal care industry, so call us and see how we can help you build your dream facility. If you are lucky, you might get to talk with Jennifer Kaschke, LVT, Andi McKenzie, RVT, or Sarah Pugh, BS, RVT!

 

Tags: Animal Care, Facility Design, Shor-Line, Industry Trends

Ready for the Summer Boarding Rush?

Posted on Wed, Jun 11, 2014 @ 04:03 PM

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An increasing number of Americans are planning more leisure travel in 2014 than 2013, according to an American Express Spending & Saving Tracker report released earlier this year. Are you ready to provide a safe haven for your client’s pets?

During the economic downturn, Americans perfected the “staycation” that kept the family pet at home. This pent-up demand for hitting the road and the air can spell opportunity for professionals who board pets.

Making a plan

The first step is reminding your clients you are available and have space. This is also a good opportunity to update your pricing to current standards.

Look at your overnight packages, especially the week-plus stays. Consider adding value to the stay with perks, such as a bath or nail trim. An early-booking discount can help you plan.

Some email advisors suggest putting the information into a text-only email to prevent spam blockers. Others indicate your clients have given you permission to email, so a PDF attachment should get through and be more helpful.

When your email is ready, send at a time of day you know most of your clients will have time to consider the information. For some, that is the evening. Others will choose a Saturday or Sunday morning.

After you press send

Be prepared to answer questions about the email both by phone and email. If there are several staff members, hand out sheets with basic facts about the promotion and how to book stays.

Pet owners frequently use the Internet to research options. A Humane Society article on choosing a boarding facility is a good resource for pet owners and will help you be prepared for the kinds of questions you might receive.

Think like a hotel, and offer to email out a confirmation with reservation dates and any information the pet owner will need to provide. List formats are helpful to pet owners, so consider the “box” check list.

Try to track your success. Even a simple tally sheet near the main phone can give you good data.

Planning for your guests

What do you do if you have more demand than space? Be happy! This means the great service you have given your clients during the economic downturn has converted into goodwill for your business.

Our Shor-Line team manufactures a line of high-quality, stainless steel cage banks that can wheel into a boarding area and then store when demand is lower. These cage banks also make great “rest areas” between play times at doggie daycares or in veterinary facilities with training or play areas.

To meet summer demand, Shor-Line is making available three- to four-week turnaround times on shipping a number of popular cage assemblies. (Call 800-444-1579 to talk about how cages can grow your business.)

If you do decide to increase your capacity, don’t forget that your customers are depending on the same great service for their pet that they’ve come to expect. Be sure you allow time to give pets love and attention in addition to regular walks and feeding. Besides, making pets feel loved is why most people get into the business!!

Sending the pet home

How pets leave your facility makes a lasting impression on whether the pet owner will board there again. No matter how busy your facility is, make sure the pets go home in the same condition (or better!) than they came in.

Consider what simple handouts or information you can provide. You can take ideas from human daycares. Pet owners love to read about THEIR pet, so maybe a short report and a picture of their pet having fun. 

Little touches and happy pets reinforce the positive decision to leave a pet in your care.

Make this the best summer for the pets in your care.

 

Tags: veterinary clinic, veterinary, Shor-Line, Veterinary care, boarding and daycare

Grooming ergonomics: Being in the right place at the right time

Posted on Thu, May 08, 2014 @ 10:02 AM

Shor-Line Blog: Grooming Ergonomics

Grooming can feel like a dance as you position yourself to best groom each canine customer. Yet being in the right place is the key to avoiding repetitive motion injuries in your wrist, arm and back.

When designing the Shor-Line Elite and Big Top Grooming Tables, the developers determined that a 180-degree pivot on the grooming arm would allow groomers to move around the table.

Notice the curved top and end. As groomers focus on the pet, it is not unusual to bump into the table. The rounded, tapered edges help you avoid bruised hips.

You need to use even the best ergonomically designed hand tools at the correct height. This table keeps your arms and wrists positioned correctly. The right tools are a solid prescription for safety.

Reducing lifting and bending are the other keys to staying healthy. The quiet electric lift operates with a foot pedal from both sides of the table, saving you steps and lifting. Protecting your lower back is critical.

The grooming arm takes the brunt of the impact if a dog new to grooming decides to bolt. Groomers tell us they have struggled with failed grooming arms on other equipment. So, we used our Shor-Line Stainless Steel expertise to manufacture a durable grooming arm that stands up to strong dogs. We think it is the best arm in the business! 

Our grooming arm is so popular that we sell it as a retrofit for competitive grooming tables. Just ask a sales rep if you need to replace an arm on another company's table.

Ergonomics is more important than ever in minimizing overuse grooming injuries. Whatever table you use, let your equipment take the strain off your body so you can spend more time doing the grooming you love.

 

Tags: Animal Care, Facility Design, Shor-Line, Industry Trends, Grooming

Seeing Veterinary Surgery in a New Light

Posted on Fri, Apr 04, 2014 @ 08:51 AM

It is just a few years ago that LPrelude dual ceiling mount surgery lightED lights became state-of-the-art in human surgical suites. Now they are quickly making their way into veterinary practices.

Shor-Line released a series of LEDs in 2014 to give veterinarians the same benefits human surgeons have experienced. Research done by manufacturers (including Shor-Line) as well as third parties have validated the strides LEDs have made in the last decade.

The question facing veterinarians is, “When should I update my surgical suite?”  The data now clearly shows that LED provides accurate light color, including good color in the red spectrum, at a lower cost over the life of the bulbs with less heat created in the surgical suite.

U.S. Department of Energy Study

The U.S. Department of Energy has been excited about LEDs because of the tremendous potential for energy savings. In 2011, its LED Surgical Task Lighting study confirmed that, compared with halogen lights, LED lights:

  • Used less wattage to produce equivalent light levels.
  • Were cooler to the touch and emitted less heat into the room.
  • Promised greater life and a non-catastrophic failure mechanism.

Overall, the study suggested that LEDs “can allow for reductions in connected load of 50 percent or more, with potential additional energy savings through constant-color dimming and reduced cooling load in the operating room.”

Shor-Line Beta Tests

When Shor-Line was developing its LEDs for use in surgery, the company did beta testing with practicing veterinarians. Veterinary practices need many of the same features as human medicine with more flexibility and portability. Shor-Line spent most of 2013 beta testing the new Prelude Series LED Surgery Lights in veterinary practices.

George Gates, DVM, SurgeryGeorge Gates, DVM, at Prairie Village Animal Hospital in Prairie Village, Kan., was one of the testers.

“It far surpasses any of the previous technology, as far as I am concerned,” he said. “In 50 years of surgery, I have never seen anything that compares.”

His favorite features are “the bright illumination, cool burning and the direct beam of light on the surgical field.”

The testing helped perfect a durable LED that could move and rotate to a variety of positions. Gates and the other veterinarians in his practice gave many suggestions on improving the adjustability to the lights. He gives the finished product a high grade for listening to feedback.

Shor-Line “greatly improved the adjustability. This allows you to put the light where it is needed.”

How the Prelude Series PerformsGatesPVAHPreludewidemonitor

The Prelude Series has the key benefits of upgrading to LED lights:

  • Excellent light source that better maintains tissue moisture.
  • A color temperature of 4,500 K that gives the user visual clarity, especially in the important red color spectrum.
  • An illumination range of 10,000 to 90,000 LUX.

Investing in LED lights not only makes sense from an energy perspective, but studies of have shown the lights also decrease eye fatigue and the operating theater remains a more comfortable temperature.

The office staff will like them as well. There is little to no maintenance required because the bulbs will last for 75,000 to 100,000 hours.

For more information on upgrading to LED lights in your surgical suite, call 888-551-4062.

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Tags: veterinary equipment, Animal Care, Shor-Line, New Products, Veterinary Surgery Lights, Veterinary care