The Lure of Success: How Passion Turned into Profit for a Fly Shop Owner

Brian Flechsig

Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Trip Host, Entrepreneur

Brian Flechsig owns Mad River Outfitters, Midwest Fly Fishing Schools, and Ohio Fly Fishing Guides. He started his fly shop in 1994 with a passion for fly fishing and the will to succeed, but not much more. Today, Mad River Outfitters ranks as one of the top three largest fly shops in the United States. Join us and learn how Brian started his business on a shoestring and how he has grown it through consistent marketing and proper business management.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What inspired you to start a business in the fly fishing industry?
• How has your business evolved from its initial concept to the multi-faceted enterprise it is today?
• How has your passion for fly fishing influenced the way you run your business?
• How do you engage with the local community through your brick-and-mortar shop?
• In creating your product lines, do you select low, medium, and high-cost products to appeal to the broadest spectrum of customers or focus on one price point?
• What is the top-selling or highest-grossing product at the fly shop?
• What are the top 2-3 selling fly patterns in the shop?
• What platform do you use for your e-commerce store?
• Do you use manufacturer’s supplied photos for your products, or do you take your own?
• What types of marketing do you do?
• What marketing has worked the best for you?
• Do you do all your marketing in-house or do you outsource some of it?
• Which advertising channels have you found most effective for your businesses, and why?
• How much luck is responsible for your success?