The business side of custom rod building continues to interest me. This is sort of a poll question. What do you consider your biggest challenge in your custom rod building business. Is it reaching the right customer base? Is it convincing a fisherman that a custom rod can make his fishing more productive or fun? Is it trying to know what prices to charge in your local market? This question would naturally be for those who actually sell rods. I wonder if we all face similar problems or if they are different from region to region or rod type to rod type.

Ken,
I tell my wife the most difficult part is that my customers are fishermen.
The stories are suspect. The pockets are shallow. The superstition is deeply rooted. The drinks are many.
Sorry you're trying to be serious, but I couldn't resist.

Eugene Moore

EFFECTIVE marketing to your target demographic.

Ditto what Gary said.

jeremy

From the standpoint of the industry, the biggest problem these days is the tremendous over-saturation of the market with blanks, components and related rod building supplies. The supply is simply far, far greater than the demand.

There are only two possible solutions. One is to create a lot more rod builders and sell a lot more custom rods. The other is to watch some of the manufactures and dealers go by the wayside. The former is possible but not without a concerted effort by the industry. And if this is not done, the latter will be the most probable outcome and, in fact, is one which has already started.

..............

On the serious side.
If fishing license sales continue to slide and children have little time or motivation to fish the end will approach.
Take a kid fishing. Give them the same passion that we have for it and in time it may improve.

Eugene Moore

For me here in my area it seems to be all about eye candy. The pier rats want show rods for bragging rights. The inshore guys just want to impress one another and say look at my new toy.The Cattle boat guys want cheap junk that looks good. My question would be, don't anyone just want a simple gear grinding fishing machine rod anymore?

Gulf Shores AL

Tom Wicker Wrote:
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> My question would be, don't anyone just want a
> simple gear grinding fishing machine rod anymore?


Yep. I do very little in the way of "bling" but I sell ALOT of rods for a part timer.