Have or do any of you ever made deals with tackle shops to sell your work?

Satisfying the purchaser's specific rod design request(s) is not going to be an option with the rod having already been completed. Custom rods would also be competing with the shop's inventory of factory rods that are likely to have a higher profit margin and lower prices to begin with. If there is a niche that isn't satisfied by factory rods, it could have possibilities, though.

Custom means you made it for someone for a specific purpose to their wants and needs, otherwise it is just another off the shelf rod.

I build a small range of rods for an online shop, it works well for me as its bread and butter work for me, free advertising for my operation and as i only build to one spec for them it doesn't affect my custom build work.

As far as i'm concerned its a another "shop window" for my operation and a source of custom that i probably wouldn't get.
(there's a lot of customers out there that wouldn't think about a custom rod but will buy a pre-built rod that is quality and different from the norm.)

W.V.A. Custom Rods
UK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2015 10:09PM by marty mulcairn.

marty mulcairn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I build a small range of rods for an online shop,
> it works well for me as its bread and butter work
> for me, free advertising for my operation and as i
> only build to one spec for them it doesn't affect
> my custom build work.
>
> As far as i'm concerned its a another "shop
> window" for my operation and a source of custom
> that i probably wouldn't get.
> (there's a lot of customers out there that
> wouldn't think about a custom rod but will buy a
> pre-built rod that is quality and different from
> the norm.)


That's exactly what I was thinking.

Zack,

Consignment or outright sale of the rods to a shop owner? Most owner do not want to put the cash out for your inventory.

Pricing of your rods is going to be the problem, as your competition will be the factory rods. The shop owner will want his piece of the action, Fixed percentage or fix price per rod to the shop owner. I would think that it will be difficult to price the finished rod where you can price your rods at or very close to or less than the factory rod pricing and still make a profit. I have thought about selling rods through a shop myself; but just doesn't make sense unless the shop owner is willing to work with you and reduce his "normal profit" margin.

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2015 09:19AM by Donald R Campbell.

Then there is the internet
Google up Fishing Rods and see if you can buy parts and sell and make profit

Bill - willierods.com

Zack, After years doing private custom and repair work for myself as well as guiding I began work for a sporting outfitter 5 years ago. I am a full time employee and manager for two stores as the fishing department manager. Sales occupy about half of my working day. The other half is spent building custom rods for customers and repairs. It is for me the best of both worlds as I am able to guarantee a good salary while also doing the craft I love and not compromising my principle that a custom rod is really custom. Any new rod contract I sign nets me a 20% (bonus) for building. It's a win, win for both the owner and myself. Repairs are normally part of my regular day but a complete rebuild includes my percentage. Most shops will not do what you are asking as the profit margin on a new rack rod is about 40 points with no major risk to them.