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[fisherkingnigel]

I've been talking to my wife and family here and we're thinking of opening a Japanese fishing store in Vancouver.

I'd have rods, telescopic nets/rods, reels, hooks, floats, baits for carp, and way too many other things to list here.

The idea is to import these goods to a market that dosen't get to see the best items that Japan has to offer.

Any thoughts on this or comments?

Nigelman

[Muddler]

Nigelman, there are a lot of Carpers in B.C., but I don't know if there's enough to sustain a retail store in Vancouver. Options that would possibly be more viable for you are doing more of a wholesale thing and sell to retailers or do some kind of online business where you can sell nationwide (if not worldwide).

[Sam Salmon]

It'll never work-the few people who do fish for coarse fish have little disposable income.
You'd end up having to deal with http://www.redlsports.com/ and carry all the same tackle everyone else does and in a year you'd be broke/gone.
The money here is made in  middle of the road goods not  specialty-for the reasons listed above.

[fisherkingnigel]

My store wouldn't be just coarse fishing (10%) and how is a fly fishing store going to ruin my store idea? Yes of course I would have an internet site too, I'd set up my own home page for items to be sold and maybe an Ebay store. We musn't forget about our americans down south.

I want too have good quality reels, I believe most of the spinning reels in Van are not of high quality. Here are some moderatly priced items from Shimano Japn that I think would be perfect for spin casting to salmon. This one called Freams has  a good gear ratio and can handle large seabass which in turn is good for salmon.

some commonly found reels in Japan.
http://fishing.daiwa21.com/index.asp?ItemID=1954

here's some jigs that would be great for salmon/halibut/cod fishing.
http://fishing.daiwa21.com/index.asp?category00=9,122,317

This is just a small expample of what I'm thinking about.

Nigelman

[Rodney]

I used to be a big fan of Daiwa spinning reels, still have about five or so high end ones in my collection (SS, EX series). These days I am more into Shimano. Last two years I've bought two Twin Power XTR and one Stradic 1000. This year I am looking for a bigger front drag spinning reel to spincast for coho and chum... Something similar to a Stradic 2500, maybe a Twin Power MGS or Biomaster.

I have to agree with Sam though, it's too competitive, and your niche is smaller in this field. Keep in mind you can pretty much get anything on the internet now, if you are willing to pay.

But, if you open one, I'll be your first customer.

[Fish Assassin]

I think you're going to have a tough go of it.  I can think of 5 tackle shops in the downtown Vancouver area not including a fly shop, 1 in North Vancouver, Burnaby and 2 in Richmond.

[Koho]

You'd probably be the first to open a shop like this.  This website does ship to Canada and the US but are based in Japan.  Haven't bought anything from that site though.
Online store

[Rodney]

What I wouldn't mind getting.... is a blue Calcutta XT to go with my 2106 that already has blue guides on it....

[Rodney]

Well, a normal one would be around 400, 500.... They don't have the anodized ones anymore... but, one can always dream...

http://www.japantackle.com/Limited_edition.htm

[Koho]

Did you used to trick out your MTB as well 

[Rodney]

Possibly....

[The Gilly]

Japanese fishing store...Sum Yung Gai Fishing

[fisherkingnigel]

they have very limited stock if you ask me. What about the rods, hooks, bags, lines, jigs, differnt types of floating and sinking lures, baits, sliding cirlcles for floats, hats, etc etc etc. I still like the idea of bringing in telescopic rods and nets. I think that's a side that lots of people miss and bringing in the fishing bags that look like golf bags too! Boys there's so much gear here that I can't even talk about here. I don't want to blab about all of it but deffinately I'd be very unique in what I'd be carrying. I don't really think the websites and stores that I've seen truly depict what Japanese fishing has to offer. When I come over this December I'm going to talk to a buisness planner and start doing some reserch into the market.

One other aspect we'd like to cover is a guiding buisness. I speak Japanese fairly well so I want to obvioulsly go after the Japanese on guided trips of the either the vedder or fraser. My friend just bought a jet boat so we're talking about contracting out his boat together. Heck even just touring up and down the fraser would be a blast! I'm sure they'd love to go and golf  Sand piper and then go do some fishing after.

Nigelman

[Sam Salmon]

"they have very limited stock if you ask me. What about the rods, hooks, bags, lines, jigs, differnt types of floating and sinking lures, baits, sliding cirlcles for floats, hats, etc etc etc."
Local shops like Berrys & Nikka have survived because they know what sells fast and what sits on the shelf long after it's been paid for.

#1-the cold hard fact is that very few people here have the disposable income that's needed to outfit themselves with  Japanese gear-as well made and specialised as it is.
How may people just on this Forum are going to spend C$100 for a stupid bag to keep their gear in just because it looks like a Golf Bag-even if they have the money?
The focus in Japanese angling is much flashier-I see guys dressed  in what are more or less uniforms-here 'fishing clothes' are the oldest rags a person owns-some concepts just don't translate as you well know.

Japanese Domestic Gear-something  to consider when importing JDM reels-WTH is going to service them?
http://www.mikesreelrepair.com is the authorised domestic service centre but will Daiwa approve his working on JDM models?
Shimano USA won't touch JDM gear-no warrantee/no service/you're on your own-thus the service already offered by Japan Tackle.

#2-very interesting!
Certainly worth pursuing  if Sturgeon fishing is allowed in the future.
It's very much up in the air right now because they might be listed as an Endangered Species which would put a real dent in any Guiding business.
Fishing the Fraser is also problematic because of somewhat unpredictable closures.

Sorry to be the Voice of Doom 'n Gloom on this thread but I've seen a number of good ideas come 'n go in BC because of lack of planning/undercapitalisation and just bad luck.

[fisherkingnigel]

that's why I made this topic to hear what people would say. So all aspects of what you guys has said is good even if it's doom and gloom. If you're going to fork out $50,000 to start a store I should know everything there is to know. The question now is what shall I do? I still wanna try this idea, when I come back in a couple of years.  I don't wanna work for someone, I want to be my own boss.

Never thought about the who would service the reels aspect Sam salmon. My question is aren't these reels all the same really and hay don't japanese reels not break down? haaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Ok so maybe bags would not be such a great idea but how about all the hooks and other cool things that they have here.


Nigelman