Hi flyfishusa,
I have been an online customer of yours ( although that was quite a while back ) and doing business with this shop was a pleasure and their website has more product info available than most.
I do think that adding the “ local “ component to your position dilutes or derails your message. To me, anytime an online retailer interjects the " local " aspect, it comes across as being disingenuous.
I’m no spring chicken, back when I started shopping with Cabela’s, Gander Mountain and a few others, they were all small businesses ( SBA guidelines or not ) and offered products that I couldn’t hope to find within a hundred miles of my rural American home on the river.
They provided my family with a solid blend of service and products at fair prices. As my life advanced and we moved from one place to the next, the one constant that I could count on for outdoor gear was the latest Cabela’s catalog that would inevitably show up in our mail box. In effect, they were always my local fly and tackle shop - as often was the case, no local fishing, camping or water sports stores existed. The fact that some of those businesses, like Cabela’s were successful and grew to become what they are today all points to achieving part of the American dream.
Let’s not overlook the customer loyalty aspect of this discussion.
Here’s the rub, as your business blossoms and grows, becoming ever larger and more successful, how would you perceive the situation then, if your customer base turned their backs on you, to seek out an upstart business that really needs their monetary support more than your - then bustling operation?
If you’d like them to stay true to your store, then how is that any different than long time customers of Cabela’s staying true to Cabela’s?
As for Wal-Mart they too serve a very real need in some communities . Not in all communities to be sure, but in this largely rural ag driven community, they help in keeping thousands of the local ag workers families afloat.
With respect for all, TT
