The Demise of the Tackle Shop

[FishingMagic]

This is a dedicated thread for discussing article: The Demise of the Tackle Shop

 

[clint4782]

A lot of truth in that well written piece, but there are still some shops where service counts.....sad to see any tackle shop close down though.

 

[chav professor]

We are lucky to be serviced by three tackle shops. But I have my favourite and it is all down to great customer service. Well done to the boys at Breakaway tackle - and rest in peace Nigel Forrest. Probably one of the greatest inovators in the modern sea fishing world - I just hope Breakaway carries on very much in the same spirit.

A well written and thought provoking piece.

 

[maceo]

I stopped in after work at a large and very well known southern tackle shop, to browse and buy a few things for the weekend.

I thought you went to the barbers to buy 'something for the weekend'.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Many times I've written about the tackle trade and their fears of the Internet, Ebay and even the bigger supermarkets etc, selling fishing gear. Instead of calling these resources, try embracing them, but all too often they don't and as a result their businesses fail.

They should address this question -

And that might tell them just how little they sell through their own shop without any outside promotion. They really need to grasp the situation and start selling through websites and ebay (or at least offer payment through PayPal).

I know we're never going to see tackle shops like the Bass Pro shops in the USA, but we could do an awful lot better than is currently offered.

When did you see a range of reels on display like this in your local shop?


PS: I also ran this article on J&K tackle in Bicester. Must get up there again for another look!!!!

 

[Peter Jacobs]

It is undeniable that tackle shops in some parts of the Countray are experiencing very lean times, and that some are having to close down. Others have come to the end of their leases and the owners want a different retail type in their shops.

That said, in other parts of the Country the tackle shops are thriving; take Ringwood for example, two very well established tackle shops within about 80 yards of each other; Avon Angling and Ringwood Tackle.

Poindestres in Southampton have recenty moved to larger pemises and Reid's Tackle at Witherington Farm Lakes is now bursting at the seams, whereas about 5 years ago they had only just moved to their new and much larger premises.

Now, there is a key mutual factor in all of these shops, and that key is the word "service" not only service but friendly service to boot.

Food for thought!

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

two very well established tackle shops within about 80 yards of each other; Avon Angling and Ringwood Tackle.

Forget which one it was, but when I asked for maggots they wanted to sell me a full pint! Rip off or what?

PJ knows!!!

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

There are 3 tackle shops near me

2 sell pet food as well - leeps them going

but all 3 give good service, are friendly and give advise on what's fishing well

 

[Paul Boote]

Funny, I was thinking about tackleshops just a bit earlier, thinking that the future for some of them might be converting into a Zombie Apocalypse Store, what with increasing numbers of Anglers going that way now ... you know it's coming...

Las Vegas: the Zombie Apocalypse Store - video | Travel | guardian.co.uk

 

[MarkTheSpark]

I echo the sentiments of the writer completely. We are blessed here in Peterborough with the excellent Sheltons, and to be fair to them, they have kept up with most things.

But let's be honest, they open when most people (who have any money) are at work, and close when they're not. I've lost count of the number of summer mornings when I've woken early and thought 'fishing' only to realise it's Sunday and I can't buy any bait. I've no problem using bread and luncheon meat, worms and other baits, but they're not going to put money in the till, are they?

Kids are particularly disorganised and would buy stuff on Sundays. I even remember one tackle shop buying a vending machine which was designed for selling chilled milk in Tetrapaks, and filling the machine with pints of maggots. Brilliant idea, and you could have any chilled bait in them.

But the truth of it is, most tackle dealers think they're there to stock tackle for sale. If all I wanted was tackle, I'd go on'tinternet. What I want is service... an incentive to go to the tackle shop.

But how many tackle dealers organise teach ins for the kids, or stage matches, or have a coffee bar and wifi, or organise tackle demonstrations, or do anything outside of opening the door each day, just after people have gone to work, then locking it just as people leave work.

I'm not saying running a tackle shop is easy - of course it's not. But nor is running any business. It's a tough old world, and the tough and innovative are the only businesses which will survive.

 

[barbelboi]

I have five tackle shops within a three or four mile radius. There is one family run shop, Harefield Tackle, that I have used for in excess of 25 years that IMO is a good as it gets. Of the others, one was my local in the 50’s/early 60’s and it was Hobson’s choice in those days (never liked the place or the family that run it – still don’t) unless you wanted a 9 mile cycle ride down the Uxbridge Road to Jimmy James’ (B James & Son) Ealing. Of the more recent ones, one is so-so with limited stock but not for me, one is for beginners with very little for the serious angler and the most recent addition is a 100% carp orientated place stocked with unknown/lesser known brands. Prior to the existence of Harefield I used to frequent Chalks of Marlow (as we used to virtually live on Marlow weir from the late 60’ until it was taken off the weir permit around 1980) Now I give Harefield virtually all my custom, apart from a certain make of rod/s and line that I’m fond of, one of the very few brands that they do not stock.
Jerry

 

[Tee-Cee]

Only yesterday I had a disaster with a local tackle shop (not too far from Maidenhead!)....

On 22nd Oct I ordered some gear to the value £335. Expected delivery 2/3 weeks. No word by last weekend so phoned last Monday to check. Temp staff didn't have a clue about orders so phoned next day-no answer, repeat next day-no answer so phoned sister shop shop for advice to be told owner gone on holiday.
Managed to reach owner yesterday to be told gear arrived at shop but went back and he didn't know where it was.
He said " from the sound of your voice I can tell you're upset so the best thing to do is refund your money as I cannot get your gear by Friday (today)". He then went on to say "I've just returned from holiday and I don't need all this and if I carry on this way I shall have breakdown"

He just couldn't understand the point that as a customer (I shop regularly) I expect reasonable service or at the very least a phone call to keep me informed on availability. I don't know how many orders he gets to this value but obviously he has so many he doesn't feel the need to do anymore than the minimum...........

I did ask if this was the way to run a business to which he answered " I've done all I can"..............Oh really?

So, having put the business his way (I could have bought online) and fallen flat on my face its back to the Net to search for prices again....Needless to say I would rather stop fishing than enter his shop again!

Very sad state of affairs and we wonder why shops go to the wall.......




Its a long drag but I will be shopping at Harefield Tackle from now on-at least they're on the ball and helpful in every way!

 

[S-Kippy]

HT is good...at least the guys there know what you are talking about which isn't always the case.Reasonably priced and I will always buy from them if they can get near to the best online price but they dont seem willing to move as much on price nowadays as they used to. I was after a pair of reels recently but I could have got them £20 cheaper on line meaning I could load them & buy cases for the same money. No brainer in the current climate.

Wish they'd do something that bit of racking that someone spilled a bottle of scopex on though. It still stinks to high heaven !

 

[sam vimes]

I have a local that I think has it right. However, I'm probably a little biased though as I've known and fished with the owner for many years. I know that his business is doing pretty well. Where he has differed from many small operations is that he doesn't stock masses of rods, reels, poles etc. It's terminal tackle, bait etc where he makes his money. He knows full well that he can't really compete with most on-line prices but he'll try his best. Much as we consumers would probably hate it, the shops could probably do with the relatively rigid but seemingly sensible pricing structures used by the likes of Drennan. The fact that some of the big name brands occasionally sell kit to the big retail players at prices that means they can retail for less than the small fry pay trade, means that the small fry are fighting a losing battle.

 

[S-Kippy]

Agreed. I dont expect my local shop to match on-line prices [nice if they do] but I dont mind paying a bit more if they can get near-ish. I've spent thousands in my local shops over many years so I dont think its unreasonable for them to offer a bit off if I'm forking out a few quid. Depends if they want to sell the rod/reel/whatever or dust it every fortnight and there are rods in one shop near me that I KNOW are way older than my daughter who is nearly 20. There's still enough margin to play with & if you are prepared to undercut RRP where you can then you will attract more customers... or more of your regulars will buy their bigger items from you. Bait & bits are a different matter...though my cousin in Lincoln still pales visibly when I tell him how much a pint of casters is down here.

Some manufacturers will not let their dealerships discount but talk to the shop direct and some will do it...and by a fair bit too.They daren't publicise it openly but its well worth asking and TBH I think in the current climate & what with the ease of on-line shopping they have to find some way to compete.

But same as any other shop if the staff are ar$ey then I'll go elsewhere.

 

[dezza]

Wickersley Angling Centre near Rotherham is open from 7-0am each morning, and on Sundays from 7-00 am to 11-00 am.

And it's on the way to the Trent, so that's the shop I tend to use most.

Maggots are £2.15 a pint and casters - £2-30.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Much as we consumers would probably hate it, the shops could probably do with the relatively rigid but seemingly sensible pricing structures used by the likes of Drennan.

I wrote a piece for Tackle & Guns a few years ago (about the only time I've written for a David Hall Mag) and that was for the manufacturers to charge a straight price making it possible for the small players to equal the bigger lads. A level playing field.

Then, if the manufacturer wanted to reward the retailers that had promoted their goods all year, they should introduce a 'Quantity Discount Scheme' whereby a bonus was paid at the end of the year equal to 2½% or 5% depending on whether that retailer had hit sales targets.

It's not such a big discount and not guaranteed that the retailer can hugely discount the manufacturer's products, but the bonus can be used to .... reward the staff, maybe? Ooohh, smacks of socialism that, but I ran such a scheme for years when I worked for a carpet manufacturer. Some retailers would stuff the money in their bank account, but I knew one very well that did spread it amongst the staff. Good on him!

 

[Tee-Cee]

Jeff, I have PM'ed you......

 

[MarkTheSpark]

I know the issue of wholesale prices being massively discounted for the big buyers, who then sell at thin margins, is a problem for small retailers of all kinds, but the problem is much deeper than that, Jeff.

There are hundreds of examples of shops which manage to beat the problem by providing such a good quality service, they attract new customers all the time. The problem with most tackle shops is that they are run for the convenience of the shop staff and managers, not the convenience of anglers.

Angling is a massively complex hobby, with lots to learn. Tackle dealers should be using this to their advantage, and offering the kind of sound advice novice anglers need. A tackle shop should have a sense of community about it. And above all, tackle shops should open at times which suit working people.... just as so many retailers do now.

My local corner shop is always busy. Price-wise, it ain't cheap. But convenience-wise, it ticks every box - open until 9pm, open Sundays, open early, nice people who chat to customers, and take part in the local community. If Mr Ritzy (yes, his real name) can do this, why can't tackle dealers?

Because, Jeff, some think the world owes them a living.

 

[Paul Boote]

Because, Jeff, some think the world owes them a living.

Long thought the same, having encountered a good many tackleshops and their proprietors and assistants, both Coarse and Game, over many years, Mark ... leaving such places on many an occasion thinking to myself "...so up themselves...".