Not to be outdone by the Retro Movement, the venerable Hardy and Grey’s dips its toe in the fiberglass market along with Sage.
Four rod models are available; Aln, 5′ for #2, Brook, 6′ for #3, Stream, 7′ for #3, Test, 7’6″ for #4, and Trout Fisher, 8′ for #5, retailing for $300 to $400 each.
These are composite rods using a mixture of 90% glass and 10% carbon fiber, akin to the many hybrids of the 1980’s, when carbon was first introduced.
The companies website and it’s international sites are down for renovation so very little technical detail is available.
I smell a push into American markets, solidified by their opening of a 14,000 foot distribution center and retail outlet in Lancaster, PA., last month, and creation of the wholly owned subsidiary, Hardy North America – suggests a larger strategy to come.
If they can weather the economics, they’ve certainly got the brand.
Do you think that a top shelf brand trying to bust their way into a market loaded with top shelf brands is an even marginally good idea right now? And with specialty rods? Based on the equipment descriptions, it almost seems like their focus groups were Lancaster locals. Not that those folks don’t have good opinions, but it’s a pretty narrow line.
Of course, I’ll bet they got a good deal on that space.
Hardy & Grey’s should be able to compete with Orvis, although I’m not sure how well funded they are – and whether they’re eyeing the infamous cedar dog bed market.
It’s likely this expansion was pre-recession planning, and they’ll slow their plans accordingly. Could work quite well for them if there’s carnage in the vendor arena..
It was definitely a pre-recession planning. It takes about 2 years from the start of a project til you have a finished building. 2 years ago we were all doing good.