Photography is such an important part of angling today that it might comes as a surprise for people to realize this was not always so. The article below--from the June 1905 edition of The Hardware Dealer's Magazine--gives advice on how to sell cameras to fishermen...so remember this the next time you reach for the digital camera.
FISHERMAN MAY HAVE CAMERA INCLINATIONS
There is no reason why a fisherman should not be a photographer as well, in fact there are many reasons why he should be; he runs across many pretty bits of scenery worth reproducing, and there are times when, even with the best intentions, fish won't bite, particularly in the middle of the day, that he might thus utilize. Then, too, a few negatives of some of his catches are valuable evidence of his veracity in his after accounts of his skill.
Remember, however, when you are showing him a camera, that he does not want anything too complicated to carry on a fishing trip, and the less trouble he has with rack and pinion adjustments, reversible backs, and other refinements of camera making, the better off he will be. For this reason the dealer might have scattered around his fishing assortment a few of the low-priced fixed focus, daylight film cameras, taking a 3H x 3H negative, and which can be carried in very little bulk, in a case slung over the shoulder.
They won't give as good results in the hands of an expert who has plenty of time and experience; but on a fishing trip, where fishing is a primary,"and picture taking of secondary importance, they will probably do better work with less trouble than the more valuable cameras.
A display of tackle cases can be made doubly attractive by exhibiting a few, varying in size and capacity, filled with tackle.
There is something particularly alluring in gorgers, etc., snugly packed away in their proper compartments in a nicely finished tackle case.
Don't make the mistake of overcrowding. Give each and every individual article plenty of room, as the worst mistake that can be made in a tackle case display is jumbling so many minnows and spoons together that they cling to each other in a mass, and come out of the compartment in a conglomerate bunch when the prospective purchaser endeavors to move one for inspection.
Show a pocket size case with a few hooks, leaders, a spoon or two and an artificial minnows, and don't forget to include in the assortment a few split shot, some small sinkers, and, if possible, a small pair of scales. The larger size cases can show a more complete outfit.
Even though a man has a tackle case already in his possession, the demonstrated convenience of another will often cause him to purchase a larger or smaller size than that which he already owns.
Don't make the mistake of occupying valuable space in a tackle case with pipe, tobacco, or a flask; the former a fisherman usually carries in his shirt or coat pocket, and the latter in his creel, if he does not wear a coat. There's another reason for exhibiting a few tackle cases filled with tackle.
Tackle cases vary so much in the sizes of the compartments that very often the fisherman's outfit contains many articles that he can't carry in the case whicn he already owns. A judicious assortment of articles, selected in regard to the accommodations, of the various cases, and thereby presenting a pretty complete outfit in small compass, will often induce a man to become a purchaser of the entire layout, case, tackle, and everything, just because he fancies that a portion of his own outfit is not as suitable for convenient carrying as that which he sees in the show window.
At other times he is apt to see something in one of the cases which will fit a particular niche in his own tackle box, and go in and purchase it, just because he thinks that vacant tray of his needs filling.
Too much importance cannot be given to the advisability of getting in touch whatever is possible with the prospective fishing trips of one's customers.
And the easiest way to find out when a man is going on a fishing trip is to make your establishement headquarters for information regarding the best fishing locations. One of the best assets which a dealer can have is to count on people floating into his store for information every time they start out to wet a line. They will come fast enough if they know yon can keep them posted as to how, where, and when to go and no man ever yet started on a fishing trip without purchasing some additional articles for his outfit.
No matter how well a man may be supplied, there is always something which he has to purchase, something that he thinks he really have. A dozen extra rlies, a few new leaders, a disgorger or a few extra baits; and your point is to see that you are the one who sells them, instead of some concern in the vicinity of where he catches his train, or leaves it when starting on his trip.
-- Dr. Todd
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