Fishing Forum

Hi, I'm CuriousStudent and I fish in Lake Pleasant.

I'm wondering if someone in this forum community might be able to help with some questions I have. I am a WP Carey School of Business student at ASU and I’m interested in knowing who are the leading online small business retailers in the Fly Fishing community?

Your input could be based on reputation, popularity, market share, etc. I'm not too interested in the huge chains like Orvis or Cabelas. Thanks for your help!

CuriousStudent

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Hi there Curious Student - Wouldn't have the foggiest idea of how to retrieve that information. I'm sure that the list is extensive but sorting it out by those that are strictly on-line retailers would be a rather arduous chore. Have you been able to determine how many on-line FF retailers exists?[/size][/#008000][/font]
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Well I assume there are a ton of little sites out there. I guess an easier way to ask this is, who are the popular online retailers that aren't the huge brick and mortar chains?


I've come across a few this morning.

feather-craft
theflyshop
riverbum


Could anyone list any others?

Thanks for all your help.

[center][font "Garamond"][#ff0000][size 2]Sorry new members are not permitted to post links or URLs.[/size][/#ff0000][/font]
[center][font "Garamond"][#ff0000][size 2]Kindly refer to the FAQ.

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blueflycafe.com and a lot of others listed on a google seach for fly shops..[]

MacFly [cool]
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Thanks. Hadn't found the blueflycafe.com yet.

The only problem with google organic searches, is that the results don't imply popularity. And that information is valuable to me.

Where do you make your purchases? Are you an Orvis or Cabelas shopper?


Thanks.
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all Im saying is if you want to concentrate your efforts on small shops.. then a google search will at least give you a good list of names..

MacFly [cool]
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Seeing how you asked small buisness, I will add some I go to.
Western rivers - www.western-rivers.com
Fish Tech: - www.saltlakecity.com/fish-tech-outfitters
Jimmy's All Seasons Angler: - jimmys@ida.net
I also do allot of mail ordering through J. Stockard
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Thanks, that's helpful. To what extent does J. Stockard manufacturer their own stuff?
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I haven't a clue.
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[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]I have done business with J. Stockard but don't believe that they manufacture any products. They are a distributor/retail on line supplier. Even a big outfit like Bob Marriotts doesn't produce anything. Perhap only flies that some of their employees may tie.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Garamond"][#008000]Hey there CuriousStudent - we know very little about you as your profile is bare. Where do you live, which school do you attend and are you into any type of fishing? Always helps to know who is on the other end of the chat line.[/#008000][/font][/size]
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My name is Kirk and I'm a business student at Arizona State graduating in May! I do a little fishing with a buddy of mine, but I'm very novice.

I have to research a market for a class of mine. It's a huge ordeal. Massive business plan essentially.

I'm on my spring break right now working on this. WOOT!

Thanks for your help.

Well, it was my understanding that Stockard had their own product line. They may not do the manufacturing, but they have their own line. Perhaps I should have clarified.

How do these line up?

Ever heard of these? Ever shopped at these?

CuriousStudent

[font "Garamond"][#800000]Say CuriousStudent you are pushing your luck. I stated in the post above about the policy of not exhibiting links or URLs active or not. Kindly abid by this request. If you have the name of an on-line supplier why don't you Google that information. That is what we would have to do. Most of us would do business with just one or two accounts. We buy stuff, tie flies and go fishing, we don't do an indepth analysis of their operations. Guess those details are left to folks working on an MBA.[/#800000][/font]
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CS...

your questions are kind of hard to answer without specific product or site in mind.. but I can tell you a few things that most anglers .. like most consumers look for in any site they frequent.. whether or not it is bass pro .. or a small mom and pop company..

first.. product quality.. most are willing to pay a bit more for the better product.. or the more reliable, time tested product..

customer service.. if you look thru this site you will see opinions on everything.. but one thing that always rings true on any opinion is customer service.. and that extends from ease of browsing.. to product description, on line purchase.. but. most importantly is follow up.. if, for example, you spent several hundred dollars on a float tube and for whatever reason it develops a leak.. you want to know that if you contacnt the retailer that they will do everything they can to help you with that product.. including trading it in for a new one..

reliability.. this is also key.. Ive purchased from bass pro. .and Ive purchased from blueflycafe.. and have to say.. one is as reliable as the other.. if you think of it in terms of volume.. blueflycafe for the most part cannot compete with bass pro in number of products.. but for the products they do sell they are as good if not better than bass pro..

cost.. in most cases the cost of a product is pretty much the same between a smaller on line company and a big guy like cabelas.. if that is the case then most will go with the one they trust the most..

you mentioned that you think Marriotts offers their own line.. and that is probably true.. but then in todays market you wont find many retailers of any product that doesnt offer its own line.. i.e. Sears.... Kenmore applicance are actually made by maytag and other big names.. but with specs as set forth by Sears.. and then they agree to let Sears (for a price of course) to put the Kenmore name on it.. Walmart has the great value logo... etc.. point being that if Marriotts offers their own "brand".. that product is probably manufactured by another company and the Marriotts brand name is put on it ..

hope this helps some..

MacFly [cool]
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[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]A lot of retailers carry products bearing their own name or a name that they can be identified by but a major manufacturer most likely is producing the product for them. Case it point most major drug stores will carry razor blades, batteries, liquor etc bearing their name but are incapable of manufacturing the product themselves.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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exactly.. :-)

MacFly [cool]
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ORVIS fly line[]
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who makes their line.. SA??

MacFly [cool]
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SA or RIO or Cortland...I have no idea, but whatever company does, it is made to Orvis specs and special slick coating.
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just like kenmore or craftsman.. or any of a number of other products made like that.. :-)

MacFly [cool]
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