Andy,
The very best thing for drumming up business is to have the overall national economy improve about 100%. Get everyone back to work and allow them to open their pocket books more often.
Fishing rods for the most part are luxury items. In virtually every part of the country, there are numerous stories of failing business, slow sales, etc. It is tough to sell product, when every credit card, purse and check book has a sevre case of lock jaw.

Take care
Roger

Roger - I think we just have very different perspectives and experiences.

I see the economy as a massive advantage for the custom builder. My sales have increased 15 - 20% per year over the last two years.

The guys calling me are buyers. What I also see is that guys being picky about what they buy... instead of slapping down $250 at Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Cabelas, etc - they are finding someone to help them get the right rod. Advantage custom builder. They are going to buy, but not two or three rods to find the right one. So they go where they can buy one and make it count.

80% of my local business is cash. Of course my national business is credit card as that is the only method I accept outside of secured funds or cash.

I know quite a few custom builders who have increased sales compared to previous years. Guess it's what you make of it.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/05/2010 08:32PM by Alex Dziengielewski.

My experience is similar. The tire kickers are all but gone. I actually turn down more business than I accept. The average purchase is of MUCH higher quality - rods and reels. Of course, it didn't hurt that many of the small shops disappeared during the recession OR they don't have stock. Our local sporting goods store has increased business for three consecutive years, while the large discount retailers are experiencing the opposite. This MIGHT quite possibly be "The Great Reawakening" of the US consumer ... where quality and service trump price and immediate availability.

My experience is similar to Alex's & Jim's. My sales are up 2.5 times over last year. I just had a fellow here tonight that put down cash on another build. This fellow, and another guy earlier both requested premium blanks and Fuji titanium sic guides.

Chuck

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2010 12:32PM by Chuck Mills.

Jim Gamble Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>This MIGHT quite
> possibly be "The Great Reawakening" of the US
> consumer ... where quality and service trump price
> and immediate availability.


I agree. Except for the imeediate availability part. Everyone wants it NOW and that culture wont change. The good thing is that custom products by thier very nature take time. The customers we want understand that and as long as we dont keep them waiting for an inordinate amount of time they will be patient.

I too have benefited from the "box store backlash". We could very well be witness to the beginning of a rebellion against homoginization and the realization that quality, craftsmanship and durability are not always available by forcing people to mass produce items from the cheapest materials with the cheapest labor available in the world so you can squeeze a half cent profit out of a billion sales. Personally I seek out independent restaraunts when I travel. I buy from small, locally owned shops as much as possible. I enjoy dealing with owner/operators and developing a personal relationship with the people who take my money.