As another small business owner, I've never met a potential client
who wanted to pay too much for the services they're considering me to
provide. In a new business pitch, I can usually overcome price
resistance by demonstrating the additional benefits of a responsive,
personal working relationship with a small business owner instead of
an impersonal one with a mid-level account manager at a large,
anonymous competitor.
Same thing is true of fly shops. At full bore retail, they're usually
much more expensive than for the same items at a big box retailer.
But just try asking the harried, overworked teenager (if you can find
one) at GI Joe's in Issaquah or even Sportee's in Redmond anything
about fly fishing.
Their blank, deer-in-the-headlights expression is a quick and pointed
reminder that price alone isn't everything. Sends me right back to my
helpful, value-added local fly shop every time.
Kent Lufkin
>While in Spokane, I stopped by a couple of the flyshops and chatted
>a bit. They are a bit miffed, or I should say pissed, at the big
>name manufacturers who have allowed Sports Warehouse to discount the
>very same merchandise that the flyshops are forced to hold the line
>on.
>
>Now I know, from previous threads, that a number of us think that
>the flyshops are too expensive. But, at the same time, we enjoy
>hanging out and talking flyfishing while gleaning our nuggets of
>information. I for one am quite tired of seeing small retailers, in
>all categories, put out of business by the big mass merchandisers.
>I'm a small business owner myself and I'm sure I have more than
>enough empathy for us little guys.
>
>Maybe there is a way we can enjoy the selection at a Sports
>Warehouse but also find a way to support our local flyshops.
>
>For what it's worth,
>Leland
