tying commercially

[Night Angler1]

I tye commercially (locally)...
Ive tied for Feather-Craft.. Even done a little work for The Fly Shop..
Now I have my own fly into production (with Rainy's) with more coming soon...

I started off do doing a few flies here and there for the local shops. This would help you make a little extra cash for College ...
But heres the thing...
1st.. get to know your local shop owner..
2nd.. know the bugs he will be wanting you to tye..
3rd.. Try you best to get him to carry "your" flies.... (something he cannot get at the big dealers)
4th... Dont fall back in school.... make that 1st ... Tying is a fast pace to keep up with demand..

Finally.. after a butt load of tying... drop the bomb on the shop your buying from about a discount for his tier....
for example... everything that come from Umpqua or Wapsi to the fly shops gets doubled to cover the shops overhead...
so a 10-20% discount helps .. it may seem like just a few buck here and there but over time it adds up...

last and finally note.. My biggest mistake..
to keep your cost as low as possible... keep track of your material..
find out what you need to use and combine what you can.

[hap]

Leonard
There is no reason for a tyer to pay more than cost when selling to that shop... I would not consider tying for a shop trying to make a buck off my work at multiple levels...
art

[Buddy Sanders]

Guys,

If you decide to tie flies to make money from them, why in the world would you buy your materials from a retailer, even at a 'discount'???

Get a resale license (not expensive and required in most states if you want to sell stuff). Buy your hooks and materials WHOLESALE from the manufacturer or distributer (if you can find this BB, you can probably navigate our way around the 'net-spend a couple of hours on SOURCING your materials).

The difference in hooks alone will save you bunches, and bulk materials (dubbings, yarns, chenilles, beads, etc.) are much less than 50% of 'retail'. Your local fly shop pays more for EVERYTHING he sells because he needs it packaged and labeled in nice little portions for the personal tyer. The packaging alone can double the price to him over what the stuff in the bags actually 'costs'. Even if he sells it to you for what he paid for it, you are still overpaying for it.

Sourcing is probably the most significant factor in profit margin for ANY small business.

It's not just about tyng the flies. Doesn't do you any good if you can't make any money from it. The more profit you make, the better, right?

Buddy

[Bass_Bug]

Correct me if I wrong, but a "commercial tyer" and "tying for a living" are two totally different things. The way I see it a "commercial tyer" just ties wholesale for a retailer. I've yet to see anyone say they are or did tie flies commercially for a living. Seriously, what is a REALISTIC amount of flies the average commercial (non-Asian sweat shop) would be expected to tie in an 8 hour day. And can one sustain that 5 days a week for 12 months? Now take out 10 federal holidays, 10 days for vacation, maybe 5 sick days. That's 25 paid days off that are common for many jobs. Full time jobs usually get health, vision and dental insurance and you still have to pay a portion of the premiums. Most full time jobs also get term life insurance for at least your annual salary.

I just don't see anyone being able to tie enough flies in a typical 2080 hour work year to make enough to live on without any other income. Now, a part time job tying for the local fly shop for someone retired drawing a pension or retirement I can see. For a college kid trying to make money for college? Seems to me to have enough time to put toward college in the first place one would pursue the highest paying job per hour.

I could be wrong, but can even an accomplished tyer tie enough to make a profit that really exceeds minimum wage? and makes enough to be worth the hassle getting vendor licenses and filing and paying State and Federal tax commercial tax returns?

Like it or not there's a reason many of the products we buy are produced overseas.

[chewydog]

As a tier, you are a sub contractor=no health or life insurance. In his younger days, my friend tied 48-50k flies per year. At $1+/- each, well exceeds minimum wage. Obviously there is a good deal of commitment involved.

[butternut-tyer]

I've tied Commercially and played Hunting / Fishing Guide in the old days...it's was fun for awhile..BUT, it will change your hobby into a job..so I ended it.
What I did then was tie "only my speciality flies, which were Tandem Streamers" so I got my jollys and the Fly Shop got a speciality fly they really couldn't get anywheres else. Good trade off..something you might want to give some thought to.
BUT...keep the passion for flyfishing and flytying.. it could very well be your life long hobby.

[Highlander]

Ah, a man that wants to stay poor forever

There is no time limit to quality but there is if you want to tie & make "some money" afraid 6 in 23mins is not going to enhance your bank balance too much. What with cost of materials, fly tying time you will not make enough to survive never mind maintain a standard of living. If you are doing it for "pin Money" fine but commercially I would say no.
Way I see it there are far too many flies from abroad especially Kenya & the far east. They in the main whilst not "great" tyings will more than suffice for fishing & at a price you or I can not compete with. Only way I see to "make a few bob" (dollars) is to specialise in something that is not readily available from the regular suppliers. One offs, local patterns for local fly shops. that sort of thing. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Tight Lines

[Boyscout]

I tied full time for 5 years. One thing to remember...

You only get paid for actually tying a fly and not the following.
1. Sales calls either in person or on the phone
2. Purchasing tasks. Ordering and the odd last minute trip down to local fly shop to finish an order.
3. Doing the extra taxes ei. Schedule C. Tax audits.
4. Janitorial work
5. Debt collection
6. Customer returns
5. Shipping tasks
6. Bad flies while "on the job training" a new pattern

Figure on making a little more than minimum wage after taking in account all of your time

Good luck, have fun with it, and you will be able to tie anything after 6 months!

Boyscout

[Night Angler1]

Here is what you are looking at..
this is what I did in 2 weeks time in Dec... ( for my Local shop)..

2 doz scuds in size.. 12/14/16/18
in 21 different colors... @ $9.25 (weighted)
15 doz Sj Worms @7.50 a doz
.....

My speciality flies:
8 doz hibernator @ $15.50 a doz
10 Doz Jigs @ 20.00 a doz
........

Now ... do I have time well invested? *** Yes***
Well winter hits here guiding is slow.. Trying to find a part-time job it a summer town is impossible..
so.. yes.. this did "Help" pay a few bills.. and put some food on the table.. Plus Christmas shopping.

Right now Im getting ready for the new year/new season.. so Im busting butt to finish a new order on top of tying for my guide service .. and tying up to sell "my night flies" to the people I guide for who want to give it a go by themselves
so Im filling up my 10 boxes (plus doing back-up)... catching up on back orders.. trying to get up 4 doz ahead.. and trying to get the local shop full..
my order for Jan..
5 colors: 4 doz in each size... 12/14/16/18 weighted
4 doz: My Roo Bugs
4 doz : "Shop" bugs" in size 12/14/16/18 weighted.. and 4 dozen each size unweighted..

Now by Feb... Im going be burnt out.. unless I get some surprize order.. I probably wont tye anything until June/July to get ready for the fall.

[Gigmaster]

I am a commercial tyer. I seldom make any money at it though, because the market is flooded with Chinese imported flies that the shops sell for .75 cent to $1.00 a piece. I can't tie any that cheap and make money.

Now, I just tie custom and specialty patterns to order for several local fly shops, and fishermen. I make a little money that way, and they get flies that aren't available locally.