Business is better than ever. This is a good problem right!?
One year ago myself and my employees of Gorge Fly Shop had to face a real possibility that we may not survive as a business through this pandemic.
Not only did we survive but today we face a very different problem. Inventory! It has been reported that "NEW" fishing license sales has increased by approx. 3 million licenses in this past year. That is an overwhelming amount of growth for this small industry.
Now the Bad News
Our fly fishing industry was never designed to adsorb this much growth.
Now for 2021 we face a very different and very real problem. Inventory, or lack of inventory.
The phones are non stop ringing and emails are flowing like mountain streams during snow runoff. Buyers are looking for rods, reels, waders, boots and boats.
Many manufacturers have already sold their entire 2021 production of some products. The demand for some products is so great that production simply can't keep up. There is currently many items that you will not be able to get your hands on until 2022.
What we are doing
I doubled down! Long ago when we first started realizing these trends I increased our orders for these high demand products. I have taken giant leaps in looking ahead and seeking alternative products.
What can you do
- Plan ahead! If you need gear for a trip this spring, summer or fall then start looking now.
- Be open to suggestions and recommendations. There is still lots of great gear available. Just might not be the brand/model you set out to get.
- Be prepared to wait! I know no one wants to hear that. In most cases you are better off to place your order and wait for it than to wait for your item to come into stock before ordering. Many popular items are selling out before they ever arrive to us.
- Discuss your needs with us. Through our experiences we can oftentimes suggest products that will fit your needs better than what the most popular products can provide.
Thank You for your patience and support
Travis Duddles
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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Wow. It is amazing to see all of these unforeseen consequences of the Pandemic and the subsequent lockdown (Some Quite Predictable, but...). EVERYONE has been affected. But what is interesting is the wide ranging effects on different industries (even a few positives) and the people associated with them. Growth Is Good. I just wish it was for a different reason....
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