FABRIC, AMMO AND BOBBERS…
Full-disclosure warning: there is no credible evidence that Walmart intends to stop selling fishing supplies in its stores. Having said that, in rural and small town America there is perhaps no more popular male pastime than fishing.
Hunting may be marginally more manly, but looses in the popularity category for a number of reasons including, restricted hunting season and the lack of loafing opportunities while hunting.
So, when Internet rumors start to fly that Walmart might strip its fishing tackle shelves in favor of displaying more bowling balls, people get hot.
From Wild Indiana:
The story is simple. According to many, many sources, Wal-Mart has told fishing industry leaders that they will begin phasing out fishing tackle throughout the chain beginning this fall. In a few hundred stores, fishing tackle will be altogether eliminated while it will be considered a seasonal item in many others. A smaller percentage will remain unchanged.
Essentially, if you believe the rumors, you will only find fishing tackle at Wal-Mart whenever the lawnmowers and swim toys are also on store shelves. Is this a good thing or a bad thing in the long run? We will not weigh in on that controversial subject except to mention that Wal-Mart is where a very large percentage of Americans purchase at least some of their fishing gear.
So after researching the matter for several hours, including a stop at the local store to make discreet inquires of the clerks, I will go squarely on record to say without any hesitation: the rumors may or may not be true.
That’s pretty straight forward. Anything Walmart, however, is never straight. Brent continues:
There are numerous references from business journals about Wal-Mart’s attempt to responding to the ever-changing marketplace and the threat presented by archrival Target stores. One interesting concept discussed is the idea that the company essentially serves three distinct markets: rural, suburban and urban. According to industry watchers, the rural (smaller cities and towns) market is considered saturated while suburban and urban areas are now the prime targets. This pursuit has led to an ‘upscaling’ in stores such as the affluent Dallas suburb of Plano, Texas.
If company focus shifts towards the urban market, it seems reasonable that less emphasis will be placed on items such as fishing tackle, camping gear and other so-called ‘rural supplies’.
You know? That could be a good thing. Growing up in Marietta, Ohio, there was bait shop on 7th street that I walked past on my way to the YMCA. I used to love watching the minnows in the live bait tank in the back of the store, and there were always fishermen hanging around swapping lies. There was a sense of community in that store.
Anyone ever seen that happen in a Walmart? I didn’t think so.
Wal-Mart has said the store remodels are being done to target the more affluent people. I picture those types of people taking a vacation and fishing, but not as the weekend fishermen that would shop for fishing lures on a regular basis. The lower shelves being installed in these remodels also mean fewer items being stocked. So this story could well turn out to be reality.
Shalom Just Me,
Thank you for the perspective. Please keep us informed.
B’shalom,
Jeff
I know you don’t shop at Walmart, so I’ll excuse you for not knowing, but yeah – Walmart is a very popular place for people to hang out and talk. They really love standing in the middle of aisles and blocking traffic while they talk. It’s like “Oh, here comes a guy pulling a giant pallet of heavy stuff – Let’s stand here and block this aisle while we chat about Billy’s soccer game.”
Shalom Bob,
I have no doubt that that is the case, but what I was remembering was people who would come to the little bait shop in Marietta literally to just hang out and swap
liesfishing stories.I think that is a different dynamic from running into a friend in a Walmart or the grocery. (I try to shop as early in the morning as I can to avoid all the soccer/church moms blocking the aisles at my local grocery).
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] FABRIC, AMMO AND BOBBERS… Full-disclosure warning: there is no credible evidence that Walmart intends to stop selling fishing supplies in its stores. Having said that, in rural and small town America there is perhaps no more popular male pastime than fishing. Keep reading… [...]
I’m no fisherman, so does anyone want to comment on this story?
Shalom Just Me,
I think it’s a poorly-written/industry driven bit of fear mongering. The only concrete action I saw in the whole piece was that lead-based tackle could be prohibited (not a bad idea, here in Ohio we’ve eliminated lead shot in favor of steel shot for water fowl hunting because of the poisonious levels of lead built up in Lake Erie that was destroying sports fishing).
B’shalom,
Jeff
p.s. if it had been other that a regular commentor, just me, i would have deleted this commet because it really has nothing to do with walmart. please stay on topic in the future.
Sorry. I realize that it has nothing to do with WalMart, but it might down the road, if severe restrictions were placed on fishing. I don’t fish, so they could do away with all the fishing supplies in the stores and I wouldn’t care, but for others, it’s a huge passion.
Shalom Just Me,
No problem.
B’shalom,
Jeff