9/11 caused more problems than most realize or admit. The fly-fishing travel business dried up. We lost a very good local travel business directly because of 9/11.

Fly shops who depended at least in part on the sale of rods for exotic trips didn't sell them...or the reels, or the multitude of other gear aimed to travel.

The other part is just that so many fly shops are 'affairs of the heart' where the owner wanted his dream of owning a fly shop. He may have been a great guy, fine angler and teacher, known what products to buy for his region - but totally lost in the world of business. Most business advisors will tell you to have 2 years financial 'float' before you open your doors. Most fly shops don't have that. Or the multitude of 'little things' like marketing, ordering, rotating stock, producing a newsletter or website or possible on-line sales.

Running/owing a fly shop is work. Hard work.
And if the shop starts a downward slide, there simply isn't enough money to pay the bills. Sad, but true.

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LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL