OPINION


Changing times across the trade


SeanO’Driscoll


EDITORIAL Editor In Chief: John Hunter Tel: 01327 315412 Mobile: 07990 542958 E-mail: john@dhpub.co.uk


Sub Editor: Lee Jones I


must start by thanking JohnHunter for all his efforts over the last 16 years as editor of this magazine, and his 21 years


atDavidHall Publishing, and wish himall the very best in his new venture. Leaving a company after


such a long time is not an easy decision and I know that it is one that he anguished over. Nevertheless, as he has already


mentioned, he will still be working within the trade and I have no doubt that he will be making contact with a number of you in the very near future. I hope to have John’s


replacement in place by the time the next issue of themagazine comes out. Apart fromthe odd company


appearing to be doing very well at themoment, I have to confess to having a few companiesmaking contact and painting a worrying picture about their business. Trying to pin down a particular reason is tough, but there does appear to be a lack of confidence going forward aftermany reported a difficult last quarter in 2016. Volatility appears farmore


apparent within angling than shooting.Although the perceived ‘big threat’ a few years ago from SportsDirect (which claimed


Looking at SportsDirect’s


foray into angling, it can be described as disruptive and chaotic and it is difficult to understand what its actual strategy was. Of course, there were some


(even tackle dealers) that welcomed its entry, citing the firm’s impressive database, high street shops and online business as a way of attracting newcomers into the sport. It’s difficult to say it did that


because the number of anglers, particularly youngsters, has fallen in recent times. All it really appears to have


that it would take 60 per cent of the tacklemarket) appears to be rescinding, particularly after it sold off itsDunlop brand, the news that smaller shops are closing on a regular basis and the growth we are seeing with Fishing Republic,Angling Direct,GOOutdoors and Glasgow Angling is a sign of distinct change in themarket. Although fewer in number,


shooting shops overall appear to be holding their own.Partly due to the fact that there are not as many, they tend to retain better margins thanmost tackle shops and because of the nature of the products they are not on the radar of any SportsDirect-type firms.


Statistics–Whogets thismagazine? Retailers of both fishing and shooting


This month’s edition ofTackle&Gunshas been sent out to a total of 5,343 people in the industry.This is broken down as follows:


711


Agents and reps of both fishing and shooting – including clothing


Retailers of fishing equipment only Agents of fishing equipment only


Wholesalers and manufacturers of fishing equipment only


54 www.tandgmagazine.com 94


Wholesalers and manufacturers of both fishing and shooting – including clothing


102


1,619 187


Fisheries


Retailers of shooting equipment only Agents of shooting equipment only


Wholesalers and manufacturers of shooting equipment only


Shooting grounds and clubs


Press, public relations and others Firearm officers


588 Total circulation


265 757 42


307 290 326 55


5,343


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achieved was prettymuch changing the face of the supply chain in the UK,with its purchase and subsequent closure ofWaterline. Te Britishmanufacturing


base, although small,was pretty much reliant onWaterline and its subsequent demise has caused underlying issues for a number of our smallermakers. I sincerely hope that they will be able to work their way through the difficulties and find suitable routes tomarket. Every dozen or so years one


of themajor retail groups tend to look at angling. I wonder if any lessons will have been learnt fromSportsDirect’s ambition to become the leading player?


ADVERTISING


Events &Trade Commercial Director: Dean Rothery Tel: 01327 315432 Mobile: 07866 721554


E-mail: deanrothery@dhpub.co.uk


Publisher: Sean O’Driscoll Tel: 01327 315407 Mobile: 07788 922976 E-mail: sean@dhpub.co.uk


Ad Production Manager: Paul Evans Tel: 01327 315450


DESIGN


Creative Director: Mark Grafton Design: Nicola Howe & Joel Howe Advert Design: Harvey Palmer


Reprographics Manager: Derek Mooney David Hall Publishing Ltd,


1 Whittle Close, Drayton Fields,


Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 8RQ Tel: +44 (0)1327 311999 Fax: +44 (0)1327 315430


Website: www.tandgmagazine.com www.facebook.com/tackleandguns Twitter: @tackleandguns


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