Originally Posted by
Silver Creek
My late friend Jim Greenlee was a lifelong fly fisher. After he bought Weinbrenner boot company, he began manufacturing the Gary Borger Ultimate wading boot. He provided start up funding for several companies including Korkers, Islander Reels, and Streambrook (a Canadian company that cofounded TFO fly rods). When Sage and Simms were for sale, he had his takeover accountants go over the "books" for both companies. What he found was that the return on investment was pitiful at the price they wanted for the companies.
I have no idea what the ROI is at this time. However, I think the only way small US companies that design and manufacture entirely in the USA can survive is to manufacture for the premium market with higher profit margins.