I have been building fishing rods, mostly saltwater, for about a year and a half. Have built about 35 rods total. I am now retired and was hoping to use this new skill as a way of having some additional income. I have aquired the necessary business licenses, but I do not have a store front. When I try to set up an account with a dealer to be able to purchase supplies at wholesale rates, I am constantly turned down because of no store front. However, a few dealers have been very understanding and have tried to help me as much as they can. Special thanks to Mr. Bob Batson of Rainshadow blanks for helping me get started.

I also repair reels and I have had absolutely no success in obtaining parts at wholesale prices. Especially, Penn reels.

Has anyone else had this particular problem? If so, I would certainly like to have some suggestions on how to reslove this problem.

Anthony Rossillo
Sequim, Washington

Hi Anthony. My name is Bob when it comes to purchaseing whole sale in the state of Washington and you want whole sale you need a resale lic. As for Penn they well give you a discounted price on parts on large orders. As for buying reels or rods they small guy has to go throu a jober Or go to a place like SPORTCO in FIFE and ask for SPORTS SERVICE

Anthony,

Dealers are constantly inundated with wholesale pricing requests from individuals who are really only seeking to get their personal supplies at a discounted rate. This is why many of them require the necessary licenses and some even require a photo of a store front.

When I operated a rod building shop I was constantly faced with many of my customers presenting their plumber's or electrician's business license to certain dealers who quickly set them up on a wholesale basis. These individuals were not in the rod building or repair business, but they got the same price I did. I didn't appreciate it as it cost me many customers and turned the dealers I traded with into my competition. Oh well...

However, many legitimate rod and reel repair shops like yours operate out of a home. Most dealers will recognize a state certificate of resale and a business tax ID number as proof you are officially in the trade. Some may require you to place a large opening order, but again, this is ultimately to your benefit as it keeps the very people who may wind up being your customers from getting the same price as you do, without actually being in the trade.

Buying direct from manufacturers is a different story. Most only sell to distributors, or to large scale custom rod building operations with a very large minimum opening order.

I suggest you contact some of the dealers listed on the links to left of this page. I am pretty sure most will be happy to work with you.

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Bob,

Thank you very much. It looks like I will be taking a trip to Fife. Talked to the people at Sportco and things seem to be working out.

Tony