Orvis cutting workforce, discontinuing catalog among other changes.

[dudemanspecial]

Orvis, a Vermont-based outdoor gear and apparel company, to cut 8% of its workforce - VTDigger

“Orvis is in a period of business evolution that requires us to think differently. Over the course of our nearly 170-year history, the company has experienced similar cycles, but today’s challenges are new,” said company president Simon Perkins.

vtdigger.org

Interesting situation going on up there. I wonder if this is out of desperation, greed or just business?

 

[joebamboo]

I won't miss the daily Orvis Catalogs that fill the mailbox!

 

[DomR]

This is ominous for the fishing department (especially the bamboo rod shop niche) but can't be classified as shocking. I mean how many new rods and reels does one need annually, I could see them contracting rod and reel offerings more than consumables like lines, waders, leaders, flies. Forget brick and motar, all internet. The higher margin apparel and such probably will be expanded not contracted, think LL Bean.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I wonder if Helios 4 sales flopped.

 

[rrt]

I haven't gotten a catalogue from Orvis for years, despite having bought a fair amount of stuff from Orvis.

I am sorry that 8% of the workers are going to lose their jobs.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I haven't gotten a catalogue from Orvis for years, despite having bought a fair amount of stuff from Orvis.

I am sorry that 8% of the workers are going to lose their jobs.

I get one once a month it seems

 

[joebamboo]

I literally get one or two a week, and I haven't purchased anything online from Orvis in quite some time.

 

[CRB]

Sad how the internet has changed business models.
But, the internet has opened the world to my fishing shopping.
Brick and mortar stores are a thing of the past.
I personally have not been in a fly shop in years. I have patronized Pennsylvania and NY fly shops over the net over that time.


“There is only one reason in the world to go fishing: to enjoy yourself,” he told The Times in 1992. “Anything that detracts from enjoying yourself is to be avoided.” L. Perkins

​

 

[Tigereye]

The white label above the grip on the helios doomed them...🤔

 

[greywolf]

There is a lot of competition these days for rods, reels, and fly fishing stuff and with the internet, you can find products similar to orvis items at cheaper prices. I know I seldom bought anything at the Orvis outlet store in Lancaster.

 

[troutbert]

There is a lot of competition these days for rods, reels, and fly fishing stuff and with the internet, you can find products similar to orvis items at cheaper prices. I know I seldom bought anything at the Orvis outlet store in Lancaster.

There is definitely a lot of competition.

And how about the size of the fly fishing market? Are more, less, or about the same number of rods, reels, etc. sold now compared to the 1990s?

 

[Old Town]

Perhaps I am living in the past but paying a thousand dollars for a Orvis rod is absurd. Any one who thinks they need to spend that kind of money to catch a trout is unreal .IMO. Yes quality tackle is needed but? I sold Orvis equipment for over 35 years and respect they have quality equipment that years ago dominated the market. In todays world we have a lot of choices and many will work just fine leaving a lot of cash in your pocket to boot.
On the other side Orvis was the oldest catalog company in the world and it was always great to window shop so to speak. I agree that buying online is convenient and can often be the best price. However buying fly tying materials online is not desirable. I need to see what I am buying to accomplish what effect I want my fly to have. Also dye lots can vary to a large extent. When going to a out of town stream it can be help full to stop at the local fly shop for current info. It used to really tick me off when some one would come into the shop and we would spend time with them explaining a rod and even letting them cast them then to see them on the stream a week later with that rod. Yep I bought it online!

 

[PennKev]

I wouldn't be surprised if the changes are driven by sales performance in other categories besides fishing gear. "Lifestyle" goods and clothing are trendy and the consumer is fickle. One year can be a banner sales year and the next a struggle. The article also mentions changes due to work-from-home and such.

To be honest, I've never personally heard of, seen, or met anyone who purchases Orvis products who is not also a fly fisherman.

As for the catalogs, I can't believe that anyone still publishes and mails out physical catalogs. Dumping yearly and seasonal print catalogs is 10-15 years late to the game IMO.

 

[Old Town]

We sold a lot of women'.s clothing and most was dressy so I do not think they were for ladies going fishing, Probably 20 percent on most days. We also sold Pendleton ladies dress suits seasonally. This was years ago when ladies working in professional offices dressed exceptionally nice. At Christmas time this was 30- 40 percent of our sales.