[Have You Been To A Good Flyshop Lately]

This is a very interesting article, and you are right, long to read.

I work at a large Canadian retailer, I have for 20 years. What this guy is talking about has happened in many other product mixes over the years. From tools to household furniture. Even in my store I have noticed many changes to our supply chain over the last 10 years. They went from 80% North American made to 65% North American sourced.

This fly shop owner has some valid points, but the manufacturers are going to go where the money is. The consumers are going to go where the price is, most of the time, it is built into our society. You buy something and someone else asks "did you get a good deal?" Nobody replies "actually I paid $5 more because I decided to shop local" Do you know anyone that has lost their job in the last 5 years because a manufacturer has gone out of business?

Unfortunately people beleive that the price is king and lets not worry about the consequences of buying something from China or India. Then wonder why their neighbor declares bankruptsy because the plant that they work at closes.

In my humble opinion, my suggestion is this. Know where your money is going. When you are making a purchase look at where the item is made and who is selling it. If you can handle lining the pockets of another country because the price is 10 cents cheaper, then fine, that is your decision, just understand what happens when you do that. The North American manufacturing industry is now reduced to this statement on a label. "Assembled in Canada (or US) with foreign parts" Very few true manufactures are left here. The retail industry certainly has moved to a global industry. Anyone that works in the shipping industry can tell you that.

I am conscious of this when I shop, but I don't always support my neighbors. I shop local when I can, but I can't always justify the price difference to myself.

I frequent 3 Fly shops, 2 of which are locally owned. I buy the bulk of my flies or other stuff at the 2 locally owned shops. I shop at these 2 more because of the people that work there and the information that they offer.

 

Bottom line: speak with your wallet. Even small items make the difference to the retailers.

 

Thanks, my opinion.

Greg

PS: I do not shop at walmart at all, because I believe that they started the over seas sourcing trend on the large scale and made our lack of manufacturing what it is today.

 

 

Well said, I respect you're opinion. You make lots of great points. Thanks for taking the time to read the article.

[Have You Been To A Good Flyshop Lately]

This is a link to a blog that was written by the owner of the Trout Shop in Craig Montana. It's pretty interesting and maybe some have read it already. It is long, but a very interesting read.

 

http://www.thetroutshop.com/blog/view/2313