On Sun, 08 May 2005 13:30:51 -0700, rw
wrote:

Charlie Choc wrote:
On Sat, 7 May 2005 19:50:31 -0500, "Wayne Knight"
wrote:


The guy I
talked to told me it was the final nail in the decision to close up shop.


If the store "sat in a fairly high traffic affluent area" and was barely making
it then I'd say Orvis isn't their problem, it's their 'loyal' customers.

That's a good point. While it sucks to lose a familiar, friendly shop,
blaming Orvis is probably not completely fair. Instead, blame the
'loyal' customers who shop online at a discount.

My impression of Orvis stores in affluent urban settings, and especially
in places like Indianapolis that aren't known for their flyfishing
attractions, is that the fishing tackle and flies and fly tying
materials don't pay the rent. I wouldn't be surprised if they take
losses on actual fishing stuff, and make up for it with high priced
clothing and other upscale yuppie goods. They need to carry the fishing
stuff for symbolic branding reasons.

Sadly, Royal River's business model just doesn't cut it anymore.

Don't look now, but the only thing keeping brick'n'mortar retail alive in the
face of internet commerce is the need for instant gratification.

Get past that and you can pretty much kiss those folks goodbye...

/daytripper