Does it give any blank manufacturers, who also offer their own line of rods, heartburn when you build a small business using their blanks. The reason I ask is that I'm finally turning a profit in my small rodmaking business using a variety of blanks for a variety of rods. I prebuild some, I custom build most, but when a rod is finished, it bears my logo and mine alone. I don't generally take requests for special blank brands nor do I make it a practice to indicate to my customers which blanks I use for which rods. I simply select what I consider the best in each class, build it right, and brand it under my own custom label (as most of us do).

As I become more successful in this industry (hypothetically), do you think I'll start having run-ins with manufacturers over this? Any caveats in this business of using multiple manufacturers that I need to be aware of?

well i cant see where your going to have a problem as long as you purchase the blanks and dont buy from a 5 finger discount broker ... other wise the blank would not be on the market for resale ...
most of the time remember you are buying blanks that the maunfactor has , do to an over run or no longer offered end product as long as u do not scrape off the "logo" i see no problem as i do the same thing you are doing just my pocket change worth ..John T Burford aka Tightline Rod's

Rob about the only problem I could for see if you are using first quality blanks would possibly be with a manufacturer wanting their decal on the rod most would accept the decal along with the rod not attached,and many want or need nothing but they better be first quality blanks not blems or seconds,this would end up with you having customer problems if they were unaware that you are using seconds,it still doesn't effect the manufacturer.
Re multiple manufacturers they all offer something different and the wise builder will select what they or their customer if they have a preference would be best to do the job.I think developing a good working relationship with vendors to be far more important.
John

No, the companies you are buying blanks from want you to do just that - buy blanks from them. They should be smart enough to realize that they can't get all the business, but through the efforts of custom rod builders, they might be able to at least get a piece of a bit more business.

Most manufacturers have no problem with a warranty on such rods, built under your own label (I did it for 20 years) but you do need to keep the Mfgs. label or decal and include it should ever have to send a blank back for replacement.

It is doubtful that you'll ever sell enough rods to really compete with the very firms you are buying blanks from. And the more you sell, the more they sell.

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Rob,

You need to speak with your insurance agent concerning liability coverage. It has been my experience that as long as you leave the blank maker's name, logo, etc., on the blank then the liability coverage they carry on their product is intact and extends to the end user. (Provided you have not modified the blank beyone the normal process required to turn it into a fishing rod - i.e., adding grip, seat and guides.)

However, if you put your name or company name on the the rod, exclusively, you could become the one liable in the result of injury incurred in the event of an accident where the rod is somehow defective and somehow manages to injure the user. This seems to be the case in at least some states.

I have gotten different answers on this and you would be wise to consult your insurance company for more info.

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I usually put the decal in the butt end of rod.. Had no problems yet.. A lot of my customers want the decal on blank.. I persoanlly think this should be left up to the customer.. Thanks Dave's Rods

The potential liability Tom mentioned never crossed my mind. We live in a sue-happy world and I'll have to start dotting my i's and crossing my t's as business increases. I personally never plan on placing blank manufacturer's logos on my rods, but I'll continue saving them in my rod record. I noticed Sage and a few other companies prints their logo on the rod--not sure how to handle that. I gather they would take it personally if removed. Thanks for your responses.

Rob incorporating a business helps but as to what Tom mentioned regarding lialibility are the type of questions that help make attorneys wealthy
John