Better Trick, Inc. is a small company/entrepreneurial startup owned by husband and wife veterinarians in rural Nebraska.  The Kramers have worked side by side in veterinary practices owned by them for their entire 37 year marriage, until recently selling their stakes in Columbus Small Animal Hospital.  

Small Biz

Dr. Jim graduated from Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982.  It was a tough time for agriculture in Nebraska.  Banks were closing, farmers were going under and rural veterinarians were struggling alongside.  The weather was severe and the economy was brutal. 

Dr. Ann joined the practice after graduating from ISU a year later.  The Kramers spent years working their way out of a large economic hole while building a family and their veterinary reputations.

Other sources of income were necessary.  The ever-constant side hustle has taken many forms over the years.  These include starting and building several successful small companies.  Many of these operated out of their veterinary practice, bringing in much needed extra income.

The veterinary buildings, telephones, vehicles, utilities and eventually computers, printers and internet service all contributed to multiple businesses over the years.  These included becoming USDA licensed breeders of English Bull Dogs, selling livestock handling equipment, selling air purifiers, and buying and selling used veterinary equipment by placing ads in national magazines.
These businesses included a 10 year run of Nutri-Tech, LLC Livestock Feed complete with some 40 proprietary products, 3 color bags, a federally trademarked name, bag/bulk delivery, and for a few years a full time salesman.  Ultimately Nutri-Tech Livestock Feed went the way of small hog farmers in Nebraska and disappeared.
Dr. Jim is a long-time member of the National Speakers Association and has traveled widely as a Professional Speaker for many years bringing in needed cash through his company Doxtalks, Inc.  He also played bass and harmonica and sang in local Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, and Worship bands. 
Dr Jim published a book that uses animals to teach important life lessons to children.
After 14 years of veterinary practice in a town of only 1400 hardy people, the Kramers moved, along with their 2 young boys, 40 miles east to a town of 18,000 and started the veterinary practice building process all over again.           
 
This time with more experience, a better plan but still no money.  Through persistence and focus they, along with their partner Dr. Stephanie built Columbus Small Animal Hospital into one of the premiere veterinary practices in Nebraska.  In 1997 we acquired and continually requalified for Accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association.

Our practice serves as a referral center for the surrounding area, offering unique capabilities including Bone Plating Fracture Repairs, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repairs, Certified Veterinary Acupuncture, Sophisticated Soft Tissue Surgery, Abdominal and Cardiac Ultrasound, Endoscopy, Radio Surgery, Class IV Laser Therapy, etc.  When we replaced our X ray equipment a few years it was the very first installation of this equipment in the United States.
All the while, the side hustle continued, this time with a company Dr. Jim started:  Icenator, Inc.  We shipped Non-Hazardous, Non-Corrosive Liquid Deicer all across the country from a fenced in area next to our animal hospital — with click through advertising as our only advertising method. 

Icenator, Inc. had a very successful 10 year run before we lost access to the deicing products due to changes in the manufacturer’s marketing philosophy.

Veterinary practice has always been the steady drumbeat of passion in our lives.  By now, with over 200 videos on YouTube and over 100 positive reviews on Google and also on Facebook, Columbus Small Animal Hospital caught the attention of Blue River Pet Care headquartered in Chicago.  A deal was struck and Blue River bought the practice.

Now the Kramers are looking at their next venture and adventure.  Dr. Jim told Dr. Ann, “I can’t walk away from my life’s work (veterinary medicine) unless I have something to walk toward.”  Better Trick, Inc. was born. 

Dedicated to earth friendliness and sustainability we plan to make our little dent in the catastrophic mess mankind has made, and continues to make in this world.   

Improving the lives of everyday people while saving the world… One product at a time.