Anglers Vs. businessmen: good or bad?

Rob Hughes

“Interesting observation this one and one that I must say I can’t disagree with. With any “hobby-based” business there is
a risk that people enter it for the wrong reasons or without having the necessary skills to run a business. Every industry is hard, whether you are flogging sandwiches or making robots. You need a skill base, you need an understanding of business, but above all you need to remember that you are in business not playing around, and that means making money… after all, that’s what business is about. However, for some reason some tackle shops don’t see it like that and work on the basis of turnover servicing debt. That’s a dangerous scenario and one which cannot last. However, it is the customer who is to blame?

“Some retailers are killing the trade for themselves and others by discounting so heavily thus not making any profit. The customer won’t complain but lets take a role reversal and picture the scene where, come pay day, your boss suggests that he wants to pay you less for the overtime you are working because he’s buying more of your time and you are therefore making more money. It wouldn’t happen, but it does in the fishing retail industry.

“But lets look at things a little deeper than the actual sale itself. Lets consider the experience because, from a retail management point of view, the angling industry once again falls short of other industries particularly when it comes to sales, marketing and also point of sales strategies. I particularly remember going to one of the last NEC Angling exhibitions which was running alongside The Outdoor Show at the same time. I wanted to get some dive kit and nipped into The Outdoor Show hall which was selling all manner of trendy stuff. It was like walking into a different world where the stands were trendier, better presented and the retailers seemed altogether more professional. Going back to the fishing show was like entering cardboard box city.

“Things have moved on in the last 10 years, but I feel we still fall well short of other markets. Maybe it’s to do with a lack of money being spent in our industry, maybe it’s as a result of a lack of profit allowing more expenditure on such things, or maybe it’s quite simply industry standard in that over the years our industry has been used to a cut-price approach. It will be interesting how things change over the next 10 or so years.”

Lewis Read

“There is an amazing cross-section of ‘shop keepers’ involved in the industry – from those that start a business based primarily on an astute businessman’s critical eye for opportunity, to individuals that simply have a deep passion for the sport and want to work in the retail sector of it. In truth both ‘types’ have positives and negatives, and both have the potential to be hugely successful (or fail dismally).

 “The most important thing must surely be having a rational head on your shoulders and not overstretching the available budget, especially coming into the winter. This is why some of the best shopkeepers are both decent businessmen and mad keen lifelong anglers. They have an insight into the angling that will be taking place through the year and tailor stocks to suit their local venues, but more than that, their business head will keep the exuberant ‘new toy’ angler bursting to get out firmly in check…

 ‘I would disagree that a change towards a businessman focused retail sector would make any significant difference to the sport or overall sales of angling associated goods. The market has a finite turnover, and this is affected by a few critical factors, such as the economy (both nationally and locally), the weather, the state and availability of local angling. 

 “In terms of sales through shops, a far more significant factor is the internet.  Internet-only shops abound; eBay sellers (though some are retailers as well), and retailers with excellent internet portals… that is really where the money is going from the high street – and if the purely retail-based shops don’t take action to secure their piece of this vast sector then they may naturally struggle to maintain market position. Here at Gardner Tackle we maintain our focus and support genuine retailers as they offer a great deal more face-to-face customer support than internet only or eBay shops, but I think it’s fair to say that we would recommend retailers to diversify by investing in online sales facilities. It’s just so vast…

 “An overview of the “boom” would be that the boom has now plateaued and we need to encourage young anglers into the sport to maintain the overall size of the market – otherwise diminishing numbers of anglers will inevitably lead to a contraction of the market. It’s the Xbox generation that need to be involved – how those people with influence politically within the scene do this I have no idea! But it’s certainly something that needs to be done ASAP.”