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Merwin: A Brighter Future for a Few Less Orvis Sales
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February 22, 2010
Merwin: A Brighter Future for a Few Less Orvis Sales
By John Merwin
This is an unabashed plug for the Orvis flyfishing catalog. And no, I am not on the Orvis payroll and I have no involvement with their advertising. What’s important here is the catalog space that Orvis devotes to conservation causes instead of product sales, which is very unusual.
Amid all the rods, reels, flies, waders, and clothing are a couple of pages devoted to potential solutions for environmental problems on Yellow Breeches Creek in Pennsylvania and in California’s Sacramento River drainage. Customer contributions are encouraged, which Orvis will match, with the goal of raising $120,000 total. Orvis also notes that every year the company contributes 5 percent of its pre-tax profit to conservation causes.
For curiosity’s sake, I checked the spring catalogs from Bass Pro and Cabela’s to see if there was anything similar. There is not. Now that’s not necessarily a knock on either company. I know that both Bass Pro and Cabela’s contribute mightily to various national conservation groups. And Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris was recently given a lifetime achievement award in conservation from the widely respected Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
But catalog pages are a unique case. For the most part, every square inch of every page is designed to sell product. Using catalog space for something other than direct sales means foregoing those sales for the sake of something else. In the Orvis case, that’s conservation. That the company does this is no small matter.
So here’s a tip of the hat to Orvis for doing the right thing.
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Comments (11)
I think conservation is all part of the "Orvis Mystic" which they market better than any other company. Whether it's marketing or not kudos to the Orvis Company for being a leader in conservation.
i'm not an orvis product user, but i commend them on their efforts. Maybe some of the other companies will take a page from Orvis's catalog and follow suit.
I am a fan of Orvis. Besides their quality products they have a conservation bent ingrained in their culture. They provided matching funds for conservation efforts on the South Branch of the Au Sable River in Michigan. The stores also help with local efforts. Some of the stores also conduct free or low cost seminars and outings to introduce new people to fly fishing and hone the skills of veterans.
I look forward to the fly fishing catalog - the fly section is great for reference.
I forgot to mention but don't you think the guy on the Orvis cover looks like our very own Tim Romano?
Way to go Orvis!
bh- that's Jim Lampros on the cover(who now manages the fishing dept. at the Orvis store in Cleveland). I should know I as I took the photograph.
fishboy43,
Thank you for the clarification. I've heard a lot of good things about the Orvis shop in Cleveland and look forward to visiting there as soon as steelhead season heats up.
Does the Cleveland Orvis shop post local fishing reports and water condtions? If so where?
Very nice photo by the way.
I have never bought from them in the past. This may change!
I have a few orvis shirts and they have out lasted many other outdoor shirts i have. they make good stuff..
I love Orvis. Great product, Making a long story very short..awesome customer service. I also like the option to round up the the nearest $1, $5 etc at checkout to support the conservation program they are currently helping (changes every so often)...A little of topic but Bass Pro provides outstanding support for the military that not many people see or hear about..just a little plug
i like orvis but too expensive for me. don't make enough for their products. good stuff though.
I'm just getting into fly fishing and am finding Orvis to be my go to for advice and gear. You can't beat a company that's been in the business since the late 1800's. Orvis is a premium brand (not just products) and they are right to dedicate those catalog pages to conservation—they care and so do their customers. I also buy from Cabelas. And while they do give mightily to conservation efforts, I have to think twice about their stance on conservation. We get about 30 Cabelas catalogs a year, and huge hardbound books too! That's a lot of wasted paper. And while their stores are great to visit, they are a bit over kill.
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I think conservation is all part of the "Orvis Mystic" which they market better than any other company. Whether it's marketing or not kudos to the Orvis Company for being a leader in conservation.
i'm not an orvis product user, but i commend them on their efforts. Maybe some of the other companies will take a page from Orvis's catalog and follow suit.
I am a fan of Orvis. Besides their quality products they have a conservation bent ingrained in their culture. They provided matching funds for conservation efforts on the South Branch of the Au Sable River in Michigan. The stores also help with local efforts. Some of the stores also conduct free or low cost seminars and outings to introduce new people to fly fishing and hone the skills of veterans.
I look forward to the fly fishing catalog - the fly section is great for reference.
I forgot to mention but don't you think the guy on the Orvis cover looks like our very own Tim Romano?
Way to go Orvis!
bh- that's Jim Lampros on the cover(who now manages the fishing dept. at the Orvis store in Cleveland). I should know I as I took the photograph.
fishboy43,
Thank you for the clarification. I've heard a lot of good things about the Orvis shop in Cleveland and look forward to visiting there as soon as steelhead season heats up.
Does the Cleveland Orvis shop post local fishing reports and water condtions? If so where?
Very nice photo by the way.
i like orvis but too expensive for me. don't make enough for their products. good stuff though.
I have never bought from them in the past. This may change!
I have a few orvis shirts and they have out lasted many other outdoor shirts i have. they make good stuff..
I love Orvis. Great product, Making a long story very short..awesome customer service. I also like the option to round up the the nearest $1, $5 etc at checkout to support the conservation program they are currently helping (changes every so often)...A little of topic but Bass Pro provides outstanding support for the military that not many people see or hear about..just a little plug
I'm just getting into fly fishing and am finding Orvis to be my go to for advice and gear. You can't beat a company that's been in the business since the late 1800's. Orvis is a premium brand (not just products) and they are right to dedicate those catalog pages to conservation—they care and so do their customers. I also buy from Cabelas. And while they do give mightily to conservation efforts, I have to think twice about their stance on conservation. We get about 30 Cabelas catalogs a year, and huge hardbound books too! That's a lot of wasted paper. And while their stores are great to visit, they are a bit over kill.
Post a Comment