Local tackle shops episode

[Chrisper4694]

Besides the obvious, how do we prevent losing more local tackle shops?

This week we had John from Old School Outdoors tackle shop join us, if you're interested in seeing the episode, heres the link:

https://youtu.be/ltBhEYAagQY?si=kBoFKPBv-87FT6vJ

We also added a new hunting report segment with signal 11 to run each week through hunting season

[RWole]

The most obvious thing is the shops need to be open . Most sportsmen like to get an early start and shops open too late. If you want to run a successful tackle shop 8-4 , 9-5 is not an option.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Used to be a lot of mom and pops in towns that would cater to mostly fresh water fishermen, sadly not the case any more. Lots of people buying online and they wonder why these shops are not there any longer when they need live bait or a rod and reel repair.

[RWole]

Again if they were open and prices were comparable to on line shopping they would have more success. Cant make a sale if doors are locked and light are out.

[thmyorke1]

I find myself buying online mostly. I still try to at least buy a bunch of stuff I know i'll need from a tackle shop, but only when i find myself walking into one. But when i do ill try and stock up on common stuff like lures and lines.

However usually a specific piece of gear or lure is online only, and i purchase it there. Then the "free shipping at $X" incentivizes me to buy more stuff that I dont need now- but know i should stock up on; common stuff like line or lures. Same stuff i'd buy at a tackle shop. Clicking some buttons on the computer and having gear show up at my front door is just easier.

The times i need something in a pinch too, there's no local tackle shop around, just a Dicks or a Walmart. Last pair of waders i blew while on the river, thankfully there was a dicks just in town 15 minutes away. Unfortunately i didnt see a local shop any closer or double the distance.

I watched the podcast, great episode. Im no business man but Old School Outdoors has a good idea selling more than just fishing+outdoor stuff. I wouldnt mind seeing all other local shops doing similar. Heck if i could buy some fresh bagels along with browsing for a new rod maybe that would work lol :D
I understand some just dont have the space and need to choose carefully what to stock however.

Going back to my first point, i just dont find myself walking into tackle shops much.
Info about whats biting etc is online or with my friends. Live bait is definitely the primary reason, maybe if tackle shops could find more reasons to make me walk in-
I recall last year the RV tournament hosted the results and a lil get together at the shop itself.
Maybe shops could offer more like that? More events, small simple tournaments, maybe even a club etc. I would definitely enter in at a local tournament maybe like SMB and limited to the local creeks (Catch and release!) where you had to show up to the shop at the end for prizes.

[AndyS]

Most shops will tell you, they can't make a living just selling bait.

[Dclark2]

Maybe I am old school which I am but I would not buy a rod without running a line through the guides with different weights to feel and see the bend. You need a shop to do that or a UPS store close to return what you don't like.

[Jigman13]

I frequent salt water shops. I rarely if ever go to those largely designated for freshwater. I'm 99% artificial when fishing freshwater. Saltwater is bait, leader, hooks, info., etc.

The bait i do use in freshwater isn't carried by any shops within 100+ miles of me, so I trap and catch my own within NJ baitfish regs.

[Chrisper4694]

I frequent salt water shops. I rarely if ever go to those largely designated for freshwater. I'm 99% artificial when fishing freshwater. Saltwater is bait, leader, hooks, info., etc.

The bait i do use in freshwater isn't carried by any shops within 100+ miles of me, so I trap and catch my own within NJ baitfish regs.

Theres a lot of good local secret info hiding in those local shop owners though!

[AndyS]

The saltwater shops seem to be doing surprisingly well.

[bulletbob]

. Those shops need traffic.. If not they fail, simple as that.. I agree a shop needs to be open VERY early, especially if they want to sell bait.. One problem is this-Most guys simply don't use bait anymore in FW. With modern high tech lures that are so effective bait just isn't all that neccessary except for maybe Carp or catfish... Shops LOSE money on live shiners, fatheads, Herring or Sawbellies as they are known up here in NY. They just die in the tanks after a while..Owners need to buy and sell them fast as they just start dying quickly. Right now, I can't buy bait anywhere, except worms in gas station.. There might be one or two bait shops within a 50 mile radius. The vast majority stopped because the cost was killing them. They told me. Different scenario in NJ, with the big population but still online sales of tackle and accessories has to be hurting a lot of those small businesses. It cannot be easy to make enough profit in NJ with its crazy overhead selling just bait, even saltwater bait.. bob

[NJSquatch]

In talking with the local shop owners one issue is just the lack of people fishing. The ones that do frequent the shop are getting up in age and the next generation isn't interested in the sport. I very rarely see kids fishing. Growing up there was a big group of us that would be at the fishing hole everyday during summer break. None of our parents fished.

To make matters worse is that any parent that was into fishing has now lost their free time with all their kids activites and wind up being a taxi service carting them around.

I generally fish artificials but do make a weekly stop for live bait during ice fishing season (if we ever get another one!)

My local shop does have a large selection of lures that you can't find elsewhere and it does draw in customers

[Chrisper4694]

The saltwater shops seem to be doing surprisingly well.

Probbaly because live and dead bait is accepted by saltwater anglers but for aome reason demonized by freshwater anglers.... i blame the bass fiahing elitists

[Chrisper4694]

In talking with the local shop owners one issue is just the lack of people fishing. The ones that do frequent the shop are getting up in age and the next generation isn't interested in the sport. I very rarely see kids fishing. Growing up there was a big group of us that would be at the fishing hole everyday during summer break. None of our parents fished.

To make matters worse is that any parent that was into fishing has now lost their free time with all their kids activites and wind up being a taxi service carting them around.

I generally fish artificials but do make a weekly stop for live bait during ice fishing season (if we ever get another one!)

My local shop does have a large selection of lures that you can't find elsewhere and it does draw in customers

Dows has lures you cant even get online sometimes

[june181901]

Probably fishing reels and rods are the last products being sold at Manufacturers Suggested Retail Prices. This invites on line or out of state shopping to not pay MSR Prices. If the manufacturers stopped cutting off supplies to small retailers who discount from their suggested prices their businesses would surely gain.
I find it amazing that we can bargain for discounted prices on automobiles with sticker prices over 100K but there is a 'set price' on a $300 fishing reel!

[Drossi]

. Those shops need traffic.. If not they fail, simple as that.. I agree a shop needs to be open VERY early, especially if they want to sell bait.. One problem is this-Most guys simply don't use bait anymore in FW. With modern high tech lures that are so effective bait just isn't all that neccessary except for maybe Carp or catfish... Shops LOSE money on live shiners, fatheads, Herring or Sawbellies as they are known up here in NY. They just die in the tanks after a while..Owners need to buy and sell them fast as they just start dying quickly. Right now, I can't buy bait anywhere, except worms in gas station.. There might be one or two bait shops within a 50 mile radius. The vast majority stopped because the cost was killing them. They told me. Different scenario in NJ, with the big population but still online sales of tackle and accessories has to be hurting a lot of those small businesses. It cannot be easy to make enough profit in NJ with its crazy overhead selling just bait, even saltwater bait.. bob

I think live bait, specifically herring and shiners have probably always been a money loser for a shop. The purposes for selling them were to get fishermen into the shop in the 1st place, cause rarely does one leave a shop with just bait, they often will pick up other items as well.

I'm honestly stunned there's still freshwater fishing shops still around. The overhead has to be murder. Plus most people buy things other than bait online. Declining sales means cutting back hours or you just make the profit (loss) margin worse, that's why the remaining shops are open the limited hours they are open. If the shop isn't right on a body of water like Dow's I don't see how they aren't a money loser.

[AndyS]

Ideally you would have to be like Dows, sell bait and tackle and rent boats. Or like others, sell kayaks, boats, weigh in deer etc etc.

[RWole]

Another big factor that has lead to Dows success is their hours of operation are great. Open when other shop owners are still in bed sleeping.

[reason162]

If every brick/mortar shop closed I don't think I'd notice for years lol.

[hammer4reel]

I think live bait, specifically herring and shiners have probably always been a money loser for a shop. The purposes for selling them were to get fishermen into the shop in the 1st place, cause rarely does one leave a shop with just bait, they often will pick up other items as well.

I'm honestly stunned there's still freshwater fishing shops still around. The overhead has to be murder. Plus most people buy things other than bait online. Declining sales means cutting back hours or you just make the profit (loss) margin worse, that's why the remaining shops are open the limited hours they are open. If the shop isn't right on a body of water like Dow's I don't see how they aren't a money loser.

I had friends in the bait business .
Bait is what carried the shops , well above tackle inventory .
.
.

[bunker dunker]

all i got to say is that you would never get the service,info and dedication on line that you get at a local shop.we need local shops,ever try getting a hot lure
in a hurry on line???i buy all me tackle,bait and anything else at local shop.also,i
have never heard anyone say that the on-line buy has ever helped as much as the local shop.thank you laurie,joe & jimmy.

[dales529]

Sad our own NJF'er Mike Reynolds passed aka Sharkispy. He bought Brinkmans down by the big D river and right before he passed he called to tell me he was opening a second shop. We talked often about being business owners and we shared the pain and success stories. He GOT IT on hours, bait and tackle and his battle with online stores as he was an avid angler.

Anyone know what happened to the shop after his passing?

Miss him!

[Drossi]

I had friends in the bait business .
Bait is what carried the shops , well above tackle inventory .
.
.

That is enlightening for sure. Margin on bait sales must be better and loss less than I expected.

[Broad Bill]

Find it interesting to have an online podcast discussing the demise of the small business tackle shop owner due to pressures from online competition. Any business that has an online presence, brick and mortar stores are done unless somehow they change their offering. It starts with wholesalers who get a greater margin selling direct to the consumer online than they do by selling through retailers or distributors. Why share the profit when you can keep it all for yourself. Read the story of what happened to our own Eyes on First Avenue and it'll give you an idea of how the large wholesale companies want to market and sell their products. If there's not economies of scale, no business much less a small business will survive and the internet took away the economies of scale from local tackle shops which for years rested on the shoulders of local small business owners.

Don't mean to be a wet blanket but in that particular space you either adapt or close your doors.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Any way you slice it, it's a tough business with so many things working against them. Online retailers, regulations, a lack of fishing interest from the younger crowd. No throw in lower disposable income caused by inflation. Only people with any money to spend these days are the old farts like me that paid off their affordable homes and managed to save some money back in the day, when saving money was possible.

[Jigman13]

Preach! Amen!


Any way you slice it, it's a tough business with so many things working against them. Online retailers, regulations, a lack of fishing interest from the younger crowd. No throw in lower disposable income caused by inflation. Only people with any money to spend these days are the old farts like me that paid off their affordable homes and managed to save some money back in the day, when saving money was possible.