CORRESPONDENCE
It’s time for the Government to listen!
Small shops are the heart and
lungs of the trade Dear T&G,
The other week I purchased an aquarium set up. Once set up l’d need the fish; not something I’d buy without seeing and advice. So I purchased it all from a local supplier.
Dear T&G,
After reading the article in this month’s magazine (December) about the tackle trade I have been saying this for the last two years - that the big boys are trying to shut the local fishing shops down. I have only been in the trade for six years now and two years ago I bought a shop in Telford, but I’ve seen the decline in sales due to the big boys and the Internet selling cheaper. The one way the government can help and asap is to make all companies tell all the trade you can only sell it at this price so no mater where you go for your fishing equipment its all the same price. This would be the fair way to do it and we may all keep our jobs and shops. The Government needs to listen to the trade and do something now and not years down the line when even more have gone.
Brian Spagg
Having once retailed in this trade along with fishing tackle I started a chat about how business was and guess what; well he said you get people coming in with tanks and filter set ups bought online asking how they fit together and how it works. He says he refers them to the “knowledgeable “ sales personnel at the sellers. Is he right or wrong?
Some years ago this magazine discussed a letter sent to a national angling publication suggesting that a retailer wanting to change £30 to elasticate a pole purchased online for a youngster would not encourage them to take up the pastime. At the time I probably agreed with that, but no longer. I now ask them to reflect on what the plumber charged for half an hour to turn a stopcock off and fix a leaking tap. Right or wrong? What have I got to lose? The tide is out and it won’t come back in.
I’ve been telling reps for years that if the trade continued supplying discounters the shops would go and so would the people that use them if they
can’t get the essentials like fresh bait or a pack of hooks.
The week before Christmas my sole Xmas present buy was a £25 gift voucher. After three weeks dumping unsold maggots I ordered none this week. I don’t know what the maggot breeder thinks. My regular supplier packed up several months ago. Mr Ashley made a huge
contribution with Sports Direct and the acquisition of Waterline, which he closed after irreparably damaging the wholesale trade.
The current temperature of the trade can be taken from the Pure Fishing 2020 catalogue. Once giant Shakespeare sent to the back of the class. A few dozen pages right at the end! Yes it’s starting to hurt upstairs as well. Some are starting to realise it. Fox are to be applauded for their efforts but is it too little too late.
Old age starts to become painful but
carrying on hurts more and nobody will replace me. That is the state of the small shops, which are the heart, and lungs of fishing.
Ian Nicholson
Have you got a trade issue that needs addressing? Or maybe you’ve read something in this magazine that you strongly
agree or disagree with. Either way, we would love to hear from you!
Please send us an email at:
nickmarlow72@gmail.com, or give us a call on 07967 507996.
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January 2020 | Tackle & Guns | 35
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