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For the past few years many fly shops have
gone out of business. Many really probably
should not have been started anyway. Some
were a result of the 'movie' and were not
run by folks with the necessary business
background.
Some that started then are still up and running,
still selling the lines of goods they started
with. Good for them, they must have figured out
'Business 101' and 'Advanced Customer Service'
too.
Some have made another choice. They let go of
the self-anointed 'guru' status of being an elitist
"Fly Shoppe" and have expanded. With what? Spinning
gear and casting stuff. It was perfectly alright
for the regular fishing tackle shops to add fly
gear, why not the reverse? Pride I guess. Most
guru's would not even admit they knew what a
spinning rod was, let alone carry one in the
shop. Where do most fly-fishers come from? Of
course, from bait-casting and spinning. That
is why many rod makers do make rods for both
styles.
Most reputable rod-makers will build you a rod
of either type also. What is so wrong with
spinning? Is it still alright to use a spinning
rod after one has "seen the light?" After you
have "advanced" to fly fishing is it wrong to
"go back?" Would that be slipping, down-and-dirty,
over to the dark side, back-sliding, sinful,
immoral, fattening? All of the above? By some
standards I guess it would, but not mine.
Even though this is a fly fishing site that
does not mean we can not talk about spinning
when it is appropriate. And it is appropriate
for many fly shops to add that or go under. Start
your customers on spinning. You will make it
easier for the new guy to get started, get out
and get fish and remember you as the guy who
got him going. Think he will be back when he
is ready for a fly rod? Most likely. But, not
if you don't sell spinning gear. That spinning
gear just might help a guy get his wife and kids
started in fishing too. Everybody starts
somewhere.
Some of us call these shops 'cross-over' shops.
Seems to be a name accepted by most of the
industry. A shop which sells the necessary
gear to allow a person to cross over from one
type of fishing to another. There are shows
for these type of shops too, big ones each
year. This type of operation allows an owner
to diversify his product line and not only
provide goods to a wider range of customers,
but often more items to each one as well.
I think the future will see an increase in
this type of marketing for most of us. It may
just make it easier for those who are still
sneaking through the bushes with a spinning
rod on occasion. It might be a good idea to
also think about these guys the next time
you need some gear. ~ JC
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