Many US procurers of foreign tied flies will pay royalties to US designers of patterns if they allow them the tying rights. Tricky business. Almost every designer-fly in the flyshop's boxes these day's have some-one's name in front of it.
Rainey Riding is one of those that took it all overseas. Last time I talked to her at her booth in Denver, she had moved overseas to live. Some of the overseas distributors bring their tying groups to the shows, and I was able to meet a few them, though few speak fluent English. They tie quickly and accurately, have pride in their work, and work for what we would consider peanuts. But in their countries they are 'better off' than the masses. They are very pragmatic, and had a hard time grasping the value of my Fantasy Flies (especially the humerous aspects), until I told them what I got for them. Then it was practical for them, as I made on one fly what they made in a month. At one show, a company brought in about 6 or so Taiwanese girl tiers, all in their late teens and early 20's, and all dressed in their traditional colorful sarongs(?). They were behind the booths demo-tying, so I went around and watched them for an hour or so. One was tying midge patterns on #32 Tiemco hooks, so I asked her if she would like to see a 'small fly'. She looked at me funny and spoke enough English to understand and with hand gestures I explained that I had a real small fly to show her. I took out a #32 Mustad royal Coachman and set it inside the bend of a #32 Tiemco that she had out on the table. Her look said it all- she was stunned. She had never seen a #32 Mustad before. She was so cute that my micro-fly found a new owner, LOL. The Taiwanese director came over and they started examining the fly while speaking Taiwanese and using a lot of gestures. He then tried to take the fly and she wouldn't have none of that. LOL One of the earliest designer-flies that I can remember was Dave's Hopper. Before that, the fly had it's own name, not the tier's name. Maybe someone can remember other flies before that, that were named for the designer. I've been told about, and been victim, to pattern-robbing practices, even in the earliest days of designer-flies. DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: Wes Wada To: vfb-mail@googlegroups.com Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 9:57 AM Subject: Re: [VFB] Selling flies online I think we are all agreed that foreign production is what has killed fly prices -- in regards to making any money tying flies. I recently was able to get some flies from a major manufacturer at Distributor's cost. Minimum purchase was a dozen flies. The fly pictured (will post the danged photo when I find the danged card reader) is a six-inch long streamer meant for Dolly Varden or Bull Trout, though any predator big fish would eat these. Materials: Silver cone head with inset red acrylic dome eyes Black tip-dyed magnum rabbit strip in Olive Black magnum rabbit strip Pearl saltwater flashabou, four strips Red Angel Hair Trailer tied stinger hook Here is the pricing: Distributor: $.73 each Wholesale: $1.48 each In comparison, the distributor's price on an Adams Parachute is $.42. The flies are produced in Indonesia, and are well-tied, IMO. Incredible thing about the prices, is that even at $.73, both the tier and brand name company still make a profit. That pricing has to be really disheartening to anyone thinking of making money tying flies. While there is a small market for specialty or collectors' flies, tying anything available at a fly shop is a formula for financial failure. Wes Wada Bend, Oregon -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" group. To post to this group, send email to vfb-mail@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to vfb-mail-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" group. To post to this group, send email to vfb-mail@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to vfb-mail-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com
