JoeFish 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 Jarrod Hit the nail on the head for me. Im 22. Most of the time when i go into a fly shop, i either get the cold shoulder or they make me feel and talk to me like i dont know a damn thing. Alot of times, the employees are there talking to each other, or another old guy, and all i get are not so freindly looks in my direction. This could be avoided by simply coming over and talking to me like a freind should. freindly is the key. for me at least. Alot of people my age or younger dont have alot of money in their pocket, and have to save and be picky. IF they were freindly and offered as much advice as salesmanship it would help tons. point 2, I went to buy a rod at a local shop, they never offered me to test it, they guy didnt ask me what i was planning on buying it for, assumed i did not really want that one, when i assured him i did, It was a 4 pc. 5 wt. He assumed i was buying it to fish for steelhead(I already have an 8 wt for that) I knew what i wanted, he was not freindly. He did offer me $20 off i I bought it that day. I was scoping it out for a birthday/christmas gift to myself. He only offered after i said i was going to look around at other shops to compare prices/selection. His only comment before that was "yeah thats a good rod for the money" and "it somes with a warranty" Surely not all shops assume young people are dumb/ignorant, but it sure seems like it. So my advice: target the young people. Kids ages 12-16 are alot more interested in fly fishing than you think. Offer kid tying classes. Kid fishing weekends. Kid showcase for pictures and flies. Young people are the future, and they have parents that need to spend time with them. Get the kids interested in it and many parents will follow. Mine did. Pretty long winded, but that is how i feel. Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 Never Lie about fiahing reports just to sell gear or flies Theres nothing I hate more than getting the bum steer from shop owners who won't admit that the fishing in there area has been slow Totally agree with Bob on that one. there is a shop near the PM that I will never walk into again just because they give reports that are so far from the truth its not even funny, only so people will come up and they can try to get there money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dble Haul 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 People that run stores are afraid of younge people ??? :dunno: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaq 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 Young people scare me :baby: :crying: :hyst: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SullyTM 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 shag...Good luck and I mean it! Everyone has covered just about everything. Once you make the move, don't look back. If this is your passion, throw away that tie and put on your favorite fly cap...THAT will make you happy. Once you're open for business I'll be one of your first customers(even though I'll have to phone in my order)...SullyTM P.S. Keep the coffee pot full! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tdeyette 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 All excellent advice ... We really need a good shop around here Shaq ... Let us know when you open up and I'll be one of the first in line! :headbang: The guy that sells basket balls is very nice, small selection of fly tying materials though. He'll order anything you need...but I like to look at my materials when I can, selecting just what size or color I need. Now as for the store owners being afraid of younger people. Here's my quick story. I use to stop at a large sporting goods store on my way home from High School (I had to walk right past it on the way home from school). One day I was in there looking at the hunting equipment and the owner came up to me and asked if I needed any help. I said no thanks I'm just browsing today. He then told me to get out of the store, he didn't want me to be hanging around in there if I was not buying anything! Now I had bought stuff in there before, that day I was just interested in seeing what was new. Maybe he was having trouble with people stealing stuff? Anyway, it turned me off to the store and I did not go back. They lost my business (they really didn't have any good fly-tying stuff anyway ) Good luck if you decide to go through with this! Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcfly 0 Report post Posted September 30, 2005 I'm no expert but if you have a shop one thing to keep in mind is that no matter what you sell everyone can get it a little bit cheaper somewhere else so make sure that they have another reason to come to your shop. Fishing advice, tips, classes, group tying sessions, coffee and gossip. Something to set you apart from those two day wait internet wholesalers. I buy locally for a little bit more but I know the guy who runs the shop supports fly fishing and the streams in my area. They always are willing to shoot the breeze and you can stand around looking all day if you like without any pressure to buy. I don't think he has ever had the cheapest price yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
troutguy#1 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2005 So my advice: target the young people. Kids ages 12-16 are alot more interested in fly fishing than you think. Offer kid tying classes. Kid fishing weekends. Kid showcase for pictures and flies. Young people are the future, and they have parents that need to spend time with them. Get the kids interested in it and many parents will follow. Mine did. You nailed it swinks1966. Talking from experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Kekel 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2005 Troutbum, Al, Is "The Fly Tackle Dealer's Guide to Success" an out of print book?? I'm having a hard time finding this. I've not even gotten a hit on existance searching google and Yahoo. Help??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted October 2, 2005 Opening a shop had better be close to some excellent fishing or half way decent runs of fish to make it worth while. My local Orvis shop has next to nothing in tying materials and charges top dollar for starter tying classes which is gay as all hell and only the Huron river near. Join a fishing club or chapter and learn for next to nothing while meeting and learning from some great tyers and fly fishermen. Why not do the internet shop? no overhead but the web site and stock. I always look for the best deal in what i'm buying if it means i look through 10 sites to get it. Everything adds up in the long run even at the cheapest price. A brick and motar shop has tons of overhead just the gas bill would suck your will to live. I'd talk to Chris Helm for some input on a shop. He by far has the most materials i've ever seen in my life in his basement and has classes for tying from some of the best tyers in their field for every reasonable money. I thought i had every material made until i hit chris's shop and droped $350 with out even scratching the list of cool stuff he had. Selection will bring in money and stock the stuff others don't. If Chris was to have a website he'd really have his hands full. Good luck! Brent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vices 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2005 One of my local shops is 2/3 fishing stuff and 1/3 bar... I like this one, the guy uses his space perfectly. Sit an talk over a beer or coffee, veal sandwich if you like.. he holds alot of club meetings in the area too.. and i tye flies for him once ina while so if i need anything i cant find.. its ordered in asap.. hope this gives you some ideas.. good luck brother.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mato Kuwapi 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2005 I'd talk to Chris Helm for some input on a shop. He by far has the most materials i've ever seen in my life in his basement and has classes for tying from some of the best tyers in their field for every reasonable money. I thought i had every material made until i hit chris's shop and droped $350 with out even scratching the list of cool stuff he had. Selection will bring in money and stock the stuff others don't. If Chris was to have a website he'd really have his hands full. Good luck! Brent. You have me interested...now where is Chris's shop? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted October 2, 2005 Whitetail Fly Tying Supplies (Chris Helm) 7060 Whitetail Court Toledo, Ohio 43617 Telephone Orders (800) 579-5549 Fax orders (419) 843-2106 Call him for a catalog Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salmonfly 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2005 I can second everything said about Chris ... a great guy and a hell of a tyer as well. If you ever want to know anything about Deer Hair he is your man! I once asked him years ago on the phone why he didn't do the Web Site approach ... and he told me he preferred to talk to people. That he enjoyed the conversations. And after many long phone conversations with him, I can say ... he is a great guy with a ton of information to share. Highly recommended. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Kekel 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2005 From a business standpoint there is one major drawback to an internet only shop and that is you cannot get a dealership for any of the premium gear. All of the top shelf product lines in gear require a store front, it's done to protect the brick and mortar stores. Even though it's limiting I gotta say REALLY respect that! :thumbup: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
