The Demise of the Tackle Shop

[jimmy crackedcorn]

Hmmmm I don't what came first, the miserable tackle shop owner or maybe he started happy then years after dealing with miserable anglers day in day out. Theres one that's moved to a trading estate near me. Nice and airy, plenty of stock good bait and, gasp, parking. It always staggered me why a tackle giant like be bennetts refused to move from their city centre location. Think beruit and you wouldn't be far off. They didn't move and died.

That said, an awful lot of tackle shops are awful, and wouldnt last 10 mins if they sold in another sector. You go into other specialist shops and the difference is marked. Better service, more knowledgeable staff and more often than not there won't be a coffee-drinking, swearing bunch of men getting in way.

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

Jimmy

Know the one you mean - I recently asked about a reel he didn't have in stock that costs about £120 - the answer was -we can order it for you and throw in a spool of line for free - good service

 

[chub_on_the_block]

Back in the day, tackle shops must have suffered with major cash flow problems from March-June, never mind during slow winter periods.

Probably many close when the owner (usually an angler himself) retires or the lease runs out and theres "new" retailers like mobile phone shops, dog grooming centres etc to replace them.

I still have three within a ten mile radius. The two that i use are both friendly and helpful. Theres more outlets than ever if you consider those attached to commercial fisheries..although i have never tried any.

 

[Skoda]

Nice article Pete, and in general I think you’re right. Reading the posts, some tackle shops are prospering and some in terminal decline. The ones selling day tickets and end-tackle with a location near some good fishing have a real chance so long as it comes with good service.
The economies of scale help; my local tackle shop is poorly stocked but well worth a visit for bait and a few hooks just to pick up the latest news on where is fishing well, if you can stand the language!
By the way is Graham Lister the ‘Chin’ of old or have I got the wrong chap?

Andy Scholey