6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
Maybe flyfishers really do want a hook-keeper.
Orvis cutting workforce, discontinuing catalog among other changes.
- Thread starter dudemanspecial
- Start date
sixfootfenwick
Well-known member
I always have
bigslackwater
Active member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2011
- Messages
- 753
I live very close by. Just saw the listing last night. If they get the 5 million they are asking, they paid 2 million six years ago, that would be a nice turnover. Perhaps they will recoup some losses since nothing much ever seemed to happen at this location. The shop was rather sparse. It had some hunting gear and a little corner of fly fishing, mostly a few lines and leaders and that was it.Looks like they sold of their wing shooting estate in Fairfield as well:
519 Gladhill Rd, Fairfield, PA 17320 | Zillow
519 Gladhill Rd, Fairfield PA, is a Single Family home that contains 4380 sq ft and was built in 1775.It contains 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.This home last sold for $4,750,000 in October 2024. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $4,770,900, which has increased by $4,770,900 in the last 30...www.zillow.com
JGR
Active member
Thanks for posting this.
Being a private company, finding financial information about Orvis is difficult. I believe that fly fishing has been a small percentage of their sales since at least the early 1990s.
JGR
Active member
Listing for the Orvis Headquarters in Sunderland:
Bamboozle
Well-known member
I have a real soft spot for Orvis...
The first time I ever laid eyes on a bamboo rod was at an Orvis dealer in Boston many moons ago which was before I started fly fishing. However, I did buy my first Orvis zinger that day that looked like the one pictured below:
When I finally started fly fishing (WAY before the Internet), Orvis was IT in my neck of the woods in regards to fly tackle and other related gear. There were no company stores at that time, but there were three local Orvis dealers (Eyler's, Cox's & The Sporting Gentleman) that got 100% of my business.
For that reason it was no coincidence my first fly reels were CFO's and my 2nd fly rod was a graphite Orvis Limestone Special that I got for 20% off by trading in an old spinning rod. My first fly tying vise was branded Orvis as were some of my tools and I anxiously awaited the four or so catalogs I got every year.
I later experienced my first Orvis company store in Manhattan that opened in the 1980's on 5th Avenue around 50th Street. That store was an eyeopener in regards to things to come after shopping at dealers who only sold tackle.
The first NYC Orvis had a first floor and a mezzanine with the entire first floor being clothing & dog beds. All tackle was all on the mezzanine with a ceiling so low you couldn't lift a rod to "waggle" test it except by holding it over the mezzanine railing and the first floor.
As time went on, I moved on to other brands and buying options but I still have the Limestone Special, the CFO's, the zingers and other Orvis stuff along with some Orvis bamboo purchased more recently on the used market. Over the years if anything needed service or refurbishment, I always got five star customer service from Orvis.
I realize change is inevitable, but I hope that level of customer service doesn't go away and for potential future bamboo repairs or refurbishment, I hope the bamboo business survives any future downsizing.
For sentimental reasons even though I don't envision myself buying any Orvis stuff going forward, I hope the company survives in a form that resembles what I fondly remember.
The first time I ever laid eyes on a bamboo rod was at an Orvis dealer in Boston many moons ago which was before I started fly fishing. However, I did buy my first Orvis zinger that day that looked like the one pictured below:
When I finally started fly fishing (WAY before the Internet), Orvis was IT in my neck of the woods in regards to fly tackle and other related gear. There were no company stores at that time, but there were three local Orvis dealers (Eyler's, Cox's & The Sporting Gentleman) that got 100% of my business.
For that reason it was no coincidence my first fly reels were CFO's and my 2nd fly rod was a graphite Orvis Limestone Special that I got for 20% off by trading in an old spinning rod. My first fly tying vise was branded Orvis as were some of my tools and I anxiously awaited the four or so catalogs I got every year.
I later experienced my first Orvis company store in Manhattan that opened in the 1980's on 5th Avenue around 50th Street. That store was an eyeopener in regards to things to come after shopping at dealers who only sold tackle.
The first NYC Orvis had a first floor and a mezzanine with the entire first floor being clothing & dog beds. All tackle was all on the mezzanine with a ceiling so low you couldn't lift a rod to "waggle" test it except by holding it over the mezzanine railing and the first floor.
As time went on, I moved on to other brands and buying options but I still have the Limestone Special, the CFO's, the zingers and other Orvis stuff along with some Orvis bamboo purchased more recently on the used market. Over the years if anything needed service or refurbishment, I always got five star customer service from Orvis.
I realize change is inevitable, but I hope that level of customer service doesn't go away and for potential future bamboo repairs or refurbishment, I hope the bamboo business survives any future downsizing.
For sentimental reasons even though I don't envision myself buying any Orvis stuff going forward, I hope the company survives in a form that resembles what I fondly remember.
bdhoover77
Well-known member
I have an Orvis H3 rod that I purchased for a discount after the H4 version was released. I don’t notice the white label (or at least more so than any other rod label) and the rod itself casts like a dream. My only complaint is that I don’t get to fish it as often as I’d like.
I also have some Orvis clothing that fits well, is super comfortable, and performs as intended.
I will continue to support Orvis.
I also have some Orvis clothing that fits well, is super comfortable, and performs as intended.
I will continue to support Orvis.
bringthepain
Active member
Looks like they sold of their wing shooting estate in Fairfield as well:
519 Gladhill Rd, Fairfield, PA 17320 | Zillow
519 Gladhill Rd, Fairfield PA, is a Single Family home that contains 4380 sq ft and was built in 1775.It contains 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.This home last sold for $4,750,000 in October 2024. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $4,770,900, which has increased by $4,770,900 in the last 30...
Good time to sell
hooker-of-men
Well-known member
My local Orvis outlet put up "store closing" signs this week. They said they'll run up to Xmas and then be done.
It wasn't a store where you could reliably find specific fishing gear, but I stopped in weekly to take advantage of the deep discounts on whatever random tying materials they got in. Some weeks it would be a pile of bucktails, some weeks a big assortment of hooks, etc. Really gonna miss that, especially considering any legit fly shop is an hour away (and charging full price).
It wasn't a store where you could reliably find specific fishing gear, but I stopped in weekly to take advantage of the deep discounts on whatever random tying materials they got in. Some weeks it would be a pile of bucktails, some weeks a big assortment of hooks, etc. Really gonna miss that, especially considering any legit fly shop is an hour away (and charging full price).
STONEMAN
Active member
I miss Phil’s updating their blog and the Friday film fest.
I support Orvis.
Tom does a free podcast, no other companies do that.
Orvis contributes substantially to conservation.
Great tying videos
Great beginner fly fishing tip videos
People complain about Orvis but other companies dont match their outside contributions. I support other companies too, but if price is equal Im going Orvis just for the fact that they have helped me & many other learn so much.
Their 25 year guarantee for rods is unheard of in the industry.
Tom recently had Kirk Deeter on snd they touched on private equities buying up companies just to diversify their portfolios & not be as passionate as owners or stockholders should be. It was a great podcast
Just my input, but ill always stand up for Orvis.
Tom does a free podcast, no other companies do that.
Orvis contributes substantially to conservation.
Great tying videos
Great beginner fly fishing tip videos
People complain about Orvis but other companies dont match their outside contributions. I support other companies too, but if price is equal Im going Orvis just for the fact that they have helped me & many other learn so much.
Their 25 year guarantee for rods is unheard of in the industry.
Tom recently had Kirk Deeter on snd they touched on private equities buying up companies just to diversify their portfolios & not be as passionate as owners or stockholders should be. It was a great podcast
Just my input, but ill always stand up for Orvis.
salmo
Well-known member
bringthepain
Active member
What did they say?
Oregon_OwlII
Active member
"Check back with us in 2024."
