Newsletter/Special Announcement November 14, 2005

 

A personal loss can be more than that of a loved one; it can be of a lifestyle.  I have come to love over the past 16 years, a lifestyle many have expressed envy that I have done what I really enjoy, working in an environment allowing me to share experience and knowledge fishing on the waters while getting to know most of my customers intimately in a friendly atmosphere, and perhaps in some small way effect the outcome of their lives in a positive way.  From the first day my son Chad and I opened in Austin, a day I invested quite a lot of money in advertising not to mention a huge inventory, a day in which my first day sales amounted to one customer and the sale of a 15 cent tip top, to the teaching of more than 1,000 rod builders and the personal rod building of thousands of rods.

 

My present lease expires on February 4, 2006.  I have kept my overhead as low as possible these past 3 years but I find 90% of my sales are of custom fly, spinning, and casting rods, fly reels, fly lines, and rod/reel cases.  Should I renew my lease I would have to change direction – dispose of fly tying materials and add lines of clothing, boots & waders, remove all but one rod building table, and add a full time employee.  At this point in my life I must do what is more economically feasible.   Instead, I have decided to take my lathe for building handles and all other rod building equipment together with components, fly reels, and fly lines to my house in nearby Deerfield subdivision.  I believe I will be able to keep my present phone number and email without change and to continue building custom rods without the overhead, honor warranties and do rod repair.  This I will do the end of January.  I will miss greatly the personal relationships and regular visits in the shop by so many I have come to appreciate and admire.  Considering I live but a mile up Blanco, I hope those relationships can continue. 

 

Beginning immediately I am discounting all Flies, Fly Tying Material, Leaders, Whizzets and Gadgets, Fly Tying Tools, Vises, Action Optic’s, Fly Hooks, Gear Bags, Cajun Anchors, Stripping Baskets, Sun Gloves, everything EXCEPT rod building supplies, fly lines, reels and rod/reel cases by 60%!  This is well below wholesale and a great opportunity for you and would help me ‘clean out’ my inventory before I actually close the end of January.  Whatever remains, I will dispose of via eBay.

 

I will maintain my excellent relationships with Sage, St. Croix, Tibor, Ross Reels and various component suppliers.  I will continue to build rods at a nominal fee of $75 (same as in 1989!) plus the normal retail cost of the components.  As many of you have experienced in the past, the design of the rod you are seeking can be done entirely over the telephone or via email.  A large percentage of my rods are shipped all over the country and to my knowledge, I have never had anything but high praise for my rods.  I will have an ample supply of blanks and components on hand the same as I presently maintain.  My personal loss will be of those people that have built rods with me in the shop and the one on one relationships I will no longer offer, although for those of you wishing to build rods out of your home, I can offer advice and provide most of the equipment required.   Keep in mind, I will be doing business as usual for the next 2 ½ months here in the shop.  If you would like me to build a rod for someone for Christmas or if you would like to acquire the components and build the rod yourself, you have ample time to get it done before the end of January.  Take advantage of the great buys available – I would hope the majority of my inventory will be gone in the next 6 weeks. 

 

Thank you and as always, I look forward to seeing you again.

 

Dennis O. Freeman
rodmaker@rod-makers.com
13457 Blanco Road
San Antonio, TX 78216
210-479-3477