Orvis - Return to Roots
Significant changes have been occurring at Orvis for a couple years now. Once of which they closed 30 of their 64 stores. The most significant change? Just guessing, I'm thinking fewer customers affected Orvis's profit margins.
Orvis's 170 year legacy is something rare with companies still in business today, and I would love to see it continue through this century and longer. Simon reviewed their history, values as a family business, then went on to share the state of the world economy and their new business strategy...Return To Roots.
Before I was a loyal Winston fan, I fished with Orvis fly gear for many years. Back in those days, I was as loyal to Orvis as I now am with Winston. When I began fishing small streams, Orvis was a name brand known for ultra-light fishing gear. And I began wading small streams with an Orvis Superfine fly rod in hand. Those were the days when Orvis offered serious fishing and hunting gear. And by that I mean tough, quality hunting and fishing gear that performed in nature's wild outdoors! Their sportsmen clothing line were made to meet the hunting and fishing needs of true outdoorsmen, and didn't look like they came off a rack at GAP or Banana Republic. We'll have to wait and see if Simon does indeed realign the company back to their roots...or not.
I'll start paying attention again when I see those obnoxious white bands removed from their fly rods.
Have to agree with you about Orvis, I hope they can return to their roots. My first graphite rod was the Henry's Fork 8 1/2' #5 and I loved it on the Wisconsin Driftless spring creeks.
ReplyDeleteThat Henry's Fork is a great rod! That last photo is that exact model, and has seen a lot of trout streams. It's retired now, but I can't let it go due to really good memories of fishing it with my good buddy, Brad. Those were good days....let's hope Orvis makes a comeback.
DeleteAh, Orvis........ As a young lad who was bite by the fishing bug, I looked forward to getting their catalogs every year. Priced out of this anglers wallet, I read and re-read the prose printed on the pages (written and supervised by Leigh Perkins, CEO and owner of the company) describing their many products and dreamed of owning one of those rods. Sadly, the catalogs are gone. Sure we now have the internet but it pales in comparison. I loved the rod names, Far and Fine, 7/11, The Tippet, Brook Trout, Tight Loop, Small Stream Special, Spring Creek, Trout, Limestone Special, All Rounder, Superfine, Rocky Mountain, Green Mountain. I am sure there are others. I finally got an Orvis when a friend gave me a well loved and fished All Rounder. As a dedicated warm water fish nut, I fish that rod many times during the season. Unlike a lot of product descriptions we see these days, that rod does what it was built to do. An 8'3" superfine blank 7 weight, unsanded no nonsense fishing tool. It is a pleasure to fish. I hope that Orvis survives its current issues and is around for another 200 years. For those who miss the catalogs and all things Orvis, there is a website called Vintage Orvis Graphite Fly Rods on facebook. It contains some of the old catalogs. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteJohn, you "nailed it" regarding the business Leigh built in his lifetime. And, you just reminded me to add an Orvis catalog page to the post. It's the only Orvis catalog I still have in my book case. Leigh knew marketing and his well designed catalogs were testament to his knowledge of the outdoors and the products he sold to true outdoorsmen. Not only did he listen to hunters and fly fishers, he knew their sporting gear needs first hand, because he lived that lifestyle. I'm sure Leigh would have transitioned from catalogs to online sales as Simon did in this economy, but Leigh's product offerings would be "spot on" aligned with his primary customer base.
DeleteThanks for adding the catalog. IMO one cannot talk about Orvis without mentioning Mr. Orvis -Tom Rosenbauer. He is one of the best in the business, the perfect spokes person for a company. In this day and age of people either having to or choosing to leave a company, his 50 years with Orvis is a wonder. His books, videos , and live presentations are terrific. Never condescending, always informative, sometimes funny, his enthusiasm and joy he has for our sport/hobby is infectious. He is one of the last of the great ambassadors for the outdoors lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteAgree...he is the role model regarding business ethics and professionalism for outdoor company representatives.
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