Fins & Furs Closed Down .......

[HBird11]

Well said ^^^

[Drossi]

Sport shop is a tough row to hoe. Rental costs are high. You can't really afford the overhead of hiring someone to work in the shop so it becomes an owner/operator thing. Now a good shop with bait and hunting supplies needs to be open early and stay open late and be open weekends to accommodate customers going to or coming from a day's fishing/hunting. That severely cuts into said owners fishing/hunting time. All this plus the items you sell have to have enough mark up to cover your overhead costs and provide a living wage to the owner. This markup often pushes the costs of many items into a range where consumers complain that they are too high and that said items can be order cheaper on-line, so that's what they do rather than spend at a brick and motor shop. They'll stop at the shop for info, items needed immediately, and to check out other things they might want but can order cheaper over the "net". All of this is bad news for the shops survival. I often wonder how shops that aren't directly at a fishing destination survive at all.

[Chrisper4694]

not for nothing but i hear this same conversation over and over again and it's a double edged sword...

if i go to a local place and they are rude or annoying to me or never have the proper tackle needed locally, i'm not going back sorry. And I've never been into this place particularly, but some of these places close due to bad business practices and it's that simple.

that being said, I try to go into Dow's on lake hopatcong to shop from Laurie whenever i can. and it is still tough to keep these businesses going even if you are extremely friendly and helpful (which Laurie is!)

It is what it is i guess...there's a reason i've learned to fish almost exclusively with lures and occasionally dead bait...we might see the day where you can't get live shinners or herring

[NorthJerzyG]

I just thought it was weird that they didn't even sell off their remaining stock before closing? No going out of business liquidation, just a sign on the door that says closed. And I wasted a good 30-40 mins of fishing time waiting for them to open, LOL..........

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by NorthJerzyG

I just thought it was weird that they didn't even sell off their remaining stock before closing? No going out of business liquidation, just a sign on the door that says closed. And I wasted a good 30-40 mins of fishing time waiting for them to open, LOL..........

Maybe there is another reason? Family?

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Chrisper4694

It is what it is i guess...there's a reason i've learned to fish almost exclusively with lures and occasionally dead bait...we might see the day where you can't get live shinners or herring

I almost never buy live bait; especially in the summer. I got a trowel for earthworms and minnow traps and/or small hooks to catch baitfish.

I don't catch alewife in the lakes, but I have watched others do really good with a sabiki rig.

If all the baitshops close, we will survive. Some people might have to learn new skills, but we will survive.

[baetis]

Perhaps I'm confusing stores, but didn't one of the owners get in trouble for bear poaching a few years back?

[NorthJerzyG]

Hadn't heard that. Not really sure but if the regular guy there was the owner he was a good guy. Friendly and helpful. Don't think customer service was the issue. Seemed like they were doing good business. That's why I thought it might be a temporary thing but the Facebook account is closed and the phone number is not in service so I guess it's curtains....

I did however have a decent fishing day throwing topwater and a crankbait. One 15 inch Larry on a prop bait, another Largemouth and two 14 inch perch on a crankbait. Conditions were top-notch so I was still pretty happy......

[thmyorke1]

Originally Posted by NorthJerzyG

Hadn't heard that. Not really sure but if the regular guy there was the owner he was a good guy. Friendly and helpful. Don't think customer service was the issue. Seemed like they were doing good business. That's why I thought it might be a temporary thing but the Facebook account is closed and the phone number is not in service so I guess it's curtains....

I did however have a decent fishing day throwing topwater and a crankbait. One 15 inch Larry on a prop bait, another Largemouth and two 14 inch perch on a crankbait. Conditions were top-notch so I was still pretty happy......

Tha's a nice perch, something you'll find out of England or something