… and I was hoping I had the lock on death and despair.
Tackle Trade World has easily one upped me by presenting the rumors of Cortland’s demise were premature, Hardy & Grey’s lays off 27 staff (31% of their Alnwick workforce), and both Hardy and O. Mustad & Sons have been hemorrhaging money and Mustad is about to be taken over by a private investment firm …
It is interesting to note that similar US Industry-focused rags are touting percentile increases in fishing as a means of cheerleading, whereby any ray of light in a darkened tunnel has to be the exit …
Also interesting was the reference that the Cortland CEO made to having trouble with banks and financing, and how the economic malaise seems to have caught up with a luxury business. These being consistent with the economic commentary of numerous CEO’s in the Fortune 500.
I received some Mustad hooks today…
“Made with Norwegian technology in our state-of-the-art China facility.”
WTF?
They created a brief row in the industry due to closing their Philippine plant and sending it to the Chinese.
The articles alluded to that as a cost cutting move, chinese labor being cheaper than filipino workers.
I can’t comment on the veracity, just that was the explanation offered.
Don’t worry, there’ll be more death and despair this year. Just heard from a friend chatter of one of the big rod companies having lost their interim financing this past week and are now in full panic mode.
Having had reason to visit the local fly shop recently, to see if there was anything my brother did not already own. I found myself examining 3 brands of reels that were exceptionally well made. Two brands of rods that were delightful to handle even if they were missing hook keepers. Gentlemen, we lack for nothing as long as we are independently wealthy. This has always been the entry ticket for the sport of fly fishing. It is a joy to complain about the ill mannered cattle and swine we encounter at the spillway of the George W. Bush sewage holding pond #3. The price of our unobtainium hardware provides us with the shock and awe necessary to defend our riffle. 2012 is likely to produce even greater lies and distortions no matter who in the industry falls and what the hair parlors leave us.
When I see the Cortland article I can’t help but think of athletic directors/general managers who always have the greatest confidence in their coaches with losing records … right up until they fire them; usually within days of them voicing their support.