My Flyshop

[Al Beatty 0]

Hi Group,

 

The Fly Tackle Dealer's Guide To Success was published/distributed to those in the FF industry in Sept 1998 at the dealer show by the Fly Fishing Business Foundation. I pulled my book out of my library and called the telephone number published in the letter with the book by Bruce Cole (Program Director, FFBF) and got a dental lab meaning the number no longer goes to FFBF. I recognize the address on the letter as the one used at one time by the group that ran the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show before the "war" in the industry in which the Fly Tackle Retailer Show was the winner (I'm not sure the industry won anything via the new group but oh well...!)

 

I don't think the book ever was available to the public. I base this on a quote from Bruce's letter that stated "We are distributing the Guide to Success free of charge at the IFTD Show to all fly-tackle dealers who attend. Following the IFTD Show, the Guide to Success will be available to the industry at $25.00 per copy (including shipping), a substantial discount off the retail price of $35.00. Volume purchases of the Guide to Success will qualify for additional discounts."

 

I think the key words in the quote above is "available to the industry." That's what I base my belief it was not available to the public. If anybody has a copy Adams Angling (who deals in out of print books) could. Good luck in your search and "no" my copy is not for sale. I is one of my most used books, even today. Take care & ...

 

Tight Lines - Al Beatty

www.btsflyfishing.com

[HFT 0]

 

I am celebating my store 10yr anniversary. You should open a fly shop if you are willing to:

Work 77 hrs. a week.

work week ends and holidays.

Have no need of a pay check for 4 to 5 years.

After 10 years you do not mind that you still do not bring very much pay home.

But you do get to make out some big checks to the government!!!!

Can stand to listen to the same old fish stories over and over and over again.

If you do not care about customer loyalty. Price will win over service 3 out of 4 times.

If you have a strong Marriage, she will support you for the first 6 months then it becomes a source of discontent as your shop consumes your life.

Employee relations: it is the toughest part of running a shop. how to deal with it all? argh!

you may get to fish once every 2 to 3 month,but that feeling will change because you will no longer go to have fun but to see how a water is fishing or if a lure is working. More of a testing time than an outing.

 

The list can go on and on and on

 

Yeh, I had the fishing Goggles on when I opend my store too!

 

#1 importance: Do a buisness plan.

 

P.S. Coffie pot,Hang out area-bad Idea.

 

 

[Steeldrifter 0]

 

P.S. Coffie pot,Hang out area-bad Idea.

 

 

Just curious as to why you feel thats a bad idea?

[HFT 0]

Simple: it is not your wonderful spend money customer that will use it, it is the two or three guys that want to hang out for hours and tell you the same old stories and interupt you in the middle of an important sale,now you loose twice. Not to mention your employees will find good excusess to hang out there when you are out.

[Steeldrifter 0]

yeeeeeh I dunno if I totally agree with that. I see your point, but as it is right now theres a number of guys that are good customers that already "hang out' at the local shop (myself included and I've spent enough money to put the owners kid through school ). So I think given a place to spend even more time and get the "tying mind set" really flowing while your sitting in a shop would cause us to spend even more money.

 

At least I've noticed that to be true with my other hobbys, hanging out in speed shops spending more money on car parts for stuff I didnt really need but just because I was there. Same with the R/C hobby I was in about 7 years ago. I would go to the track in the back of a hobby shop to watch my buddy race, not planning on dropping a dime in there....yet after hanginh out for 3 hour I would leave $30-40 poorer than I was when I went in :wallbash:

[super_fly 0]

From a consumer's perspective I'd look into a relationship with the local fly fishing club. In our club we have relationships with the 3 or 4 of the local flyshops as well as Bass Pro. The local shops give us a discount and periodically will run an "open house". This is an event for club members where they host us, have snacks & sodas, and show us hot patterns & new materials. We've had a couple so far and every one left with people loading up on materials & gear that night. One I didn't make it to was a co sponsor with a material manufacturer & the shop. From what I hear a ton of that manufacturer's product moved that evening. Bass Pro lets us use their tying area for our club's monthly fly tying seminar. If a local shop had the room for the event we'd go there as well.

 

Ken

[Esutton 0]

Hello all,

 

I have a dream....and I just may be inching closer. One of the shops in the area is getting out of the tying business and that leaves a 40 mile radius in my area with one flyshop. It's not really a "Flyshop" because they sell basketballs and footballs and all that jazz. It's always been my dream to own a shop since I was a young fisherman and used to hang in the local shop watching the owner sit back and tie flies for me as I barked orders at what the fly "Should be" because I once got a strike on one. Just wanted to get all your opinions on what the ultimate flyshop should have, look like, and FEEL like. I have my ideas and I wanted to bounce them up on yours. Thanks alot for the input.

 

Shaq

 

 

I see that you are in Eastern NY. I was just up in Scotia, and visited a nice little sports shop there called Goldstock's. They have a really nice but small tying materials/equipment section. I was impressed... maybe you can visit them and get some ideas...