COVID-19 Special Report - Lost Coast Outfitters - George Revel

Hot podcasting from Chico California.

This is the Bartlett fly fishing podcast.

Where we discuss North cal fly fishing, guiding fisheries science and management,

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No better, fish better. Here's your hosts. Chad A and Nick Hanna.

This episode of the Barb fly fishing podcast is brought to you by California shroud, working throughout the state to ensure we have resilient wild fish, thriving in healthy waters for a better California.

Support cal innovative science based work by becoming a member. Or donating today at cal dot org. Hey. Welcome to another episode of the Barb fly fishing podcast is a special episode

talking about the Covid nineteen

pandemic that's going on. Is now a pandemic

it is. What's the date fellas. It's the twenty third today or the twenty fourth?

It's the twenty fourth. As hard to know what data is Right? Yeah. Yeah. You know the day just kinda blend together when you're locked in your house. So, yeah, It's March twenty fourth,

three Pm, we normally don't call out the dates on these episodes, but for,

the anna of history

and for the continuity in these show. So if you're listening to them, you should be listening to this series at least in

in order

because if you don't, you're gonna be very confused.

But where... You went... Wanted to call out the dates so you guys know, you know,

give you some context for our discussion. So, you know, because things may may get chain it may change. Where we're not at the inflection point yet. So it's supposed to be getting worse before it gets better

in terms of the the...

What do they call it the bump or whatever. But

in in some in some good news. The market was up record a record day to day. So there's some good news out there. Okay.

Whether or not that holds type Who knows.

Yeah. That's cool.

Alright. So on the phone with us is is George Rave

George. How are you doing?

Oh, I'm right riding the roller coaster right now, man? Yeah. Dude. But all all things considered, you know, pretty good, and healthy.

Yeah. Family's good. Everything's everything's okay. Yeah. And and George is the owner operator of Los Coast Outfitters located in,

basically,

your... What what part of the city or a aka, San Francisco, are you in? I don't... I haven't been to the brick and mortar yet.

Where's a confluence, man. That's that's where we like to be. We're right where Chinatown,

meets the financial district meets North Beach meets Jackson Square. So

we're we're two blocks north of the trans permit. Okay. Cool. Well,

you know, having

starting a retail store

take some balls.

Starting in especially in Fly fishing, starting a retail soar in San Francisco takes bigger balls.

So what... Before we we get into you know, what's going on on the ground today, Can you kinda talk about your background and what led you to the that San Francisco and then actually starting starting a store because there's... They're... You know, they're... The the hardcore people know who you are, the people that do the shows, know who you are, but there's... I think there's a significant amount of people that probably don't know who you are or about about the company. So if we can kinda give them a little background first, and then... Yeah. Yeah. That.

Try to keep it brief, but I I grew up in that Anderson California,

and

fishing, you know, fishing was a passion of mine from a very young age, I grew up

on Cal Creek in a lower lower Sacramento river. So I've been fishing since I was a a little guy and had tons of great mentors and

in the local casting community and fly sign community that are there and redding and

was really

lucky to learn a lot from a very young age, and

I worked for Or out Manchester Vermont and traveled around doing all their fly fishing shows and

was a competitive caster for for a good number of years and

moved San Francisco in two thousand and six

to go to College at University of San Francisco.

I was still working for Or at the time, and

And then,

an opportunity came up at Leland Fly fishing outfitters,

which was a shop in Downtown San Francisco.

Worked work there as their director of operations for six years and work the floor and

was very fortunate to work with a lot of great people and learn a lot of great things,

both, you know, what to do what not to do in a retail operation. And when they closed an Enormous closed in San Francisco. Just saw this phenomenal opportunity to to open a shop. It wasn't

immediately clear, but

jumped on it, and, man,

naive I was. I thought it would be pretty easy.

But, seven years later,

but hit keep coming, but I love it. I love

all the people I work with, clients and

staff and vendors and guides I'm very fortunate to have made.

At least for the moment, my passion,

my my work.

Yeah. Man. Like, when I first got in a fly fishing, I guess it's been, like, four years now.

You know, my my background is a lot of people that listen to the show knows is technology and, you know, in software design and branding and stuff like that. And

when I got into the industry or into the fly fishing space,

your brand, like, popped out. I was like, damn this thing is just tight. It's so well put together. And, you know, I know you you said you kinda, like, took a big leap in everything, but you do make it look easy. I know it's super hard, you know, as as as a Nick and I are learning.

But jeez, You've done such a great job, but the brand and just everything you do. You know, the whole thing, every every part of the brand that you put out there is just it's tight and it's considered. You know what I mean? Like, I still haven't been in the retail store. But if you just look at your, you know, your booth even. You know, everything... Your... The videos you guys put out, the booth, everything

it's just tight, you know, and it's kind of like,

that's the that's the ideal, I think for... In this day and age for... Especially if you're gonna run a a brick and mortar butterfly shop, you guys kinda set the standard, I think. Personally, that's how I feel about it.

Well, I appreciate that. You know, it's not...

You know, it's kinda funny. It's just solve all the pieces do tend to come together,

you know, when you've been doing it for so long. You know, for example, you know, our whole boot is made up of fixtures from the Or san Jose store that closed. And I came together because I've known Steve for, you know, fifteen years, and he was a store manager and now works for me when they closed that store. He gave me a call and said hey I've got a great deal on a bunch of fixtures if you want them. And so

you know, the stores don't out a little parts from the old Bee shop in in San Francisco. And

so it's, you know, it's just sort of come together

by just being in the business for a long time. It's authentic. You know, it's a our true passion.

You know, when when you see...

I mean, when you just see how it's been put together, it it really...

At least I hope it it conveys that that we're authentic and we're not we're not here in the short term, we're really here for the long term, because it is our passion.

Yeah. I mean, it you're... You'd... I get that sense, man.

And it... I think you're hitting it. It's pretty cool. And then also, like, you've been able to figure out how to weave, like, services in really in really compelling way with your your brick and mortar stuff too. Can you kinda talk about, you know, the the this... All the casting lessons you're doing in the city and all the other stuff that... Just the... I think the extra extracurricular events that a lot of, I think flash shops don't do?

Can you kinda talk about those of it and and kinda do have that that surely and the evolution of those?

Yeah. I mean, you know, from the day that I started,

Las south, I'm very... Very passionate about education. You know, teaching people things and being generous with

time and knowledge

has been

something that's been instilled in me for a very long time because that's the way my mentor is acted towards me as they were very generous with their time and knowledge and and taught me a lot. And so I've built that into the company. So we teach casting lessons.

I'm out at the golden getting england and casting club

almost every morning teaching from

seven to eight to eight to nine Am. That's how I start most days.

And then,

we have, you know, fly sign education.

We teach surf clinics.

We do

a lot of gear service. So if you come into our shop, you know, the the cashmere register certain just a cash register. It's it's like a tool workstation, like a bike shop, you know, all our tools and, you know, we've got, like, fifteen different types of real lubricants depending on the different reels and we can repair rods.

On on... Without having to send stuff in. So, you know, kinda taking,

you know, all of the knowledge that we've accumulated not just from me, but from staff members to be able to

achieve things that that most shops aren't gonna do. And and that's our big

we wanna be different. We don't wanna be just another fly shop.

We wanna be

part of the community, somebody can rely on, and somebody gonna go above and beyond

services that you would receive other places. So that's

you know, we try not to do anything

just standard,

we try and go about that.

Yeah. It's very cool.

Nick, do you have any questions before we we press on? No. No. I I think the... What he just hit on is is Yeah.

Fantastic. It just it made me think about

my fly saw days, but, you know, just the rod

just brought like, like, fixing a a rod tip, You know, somebody comes in, they have a rod tip broken. And if you're able to throw a tip top back on and get that person out fly fishing. I mean,

without having to send your rod off, you know, just... And then not tying, learning to tie knot right there on the spot. It's it's a lot easier than getting on Youtube or, you know, looking through a book and that service is just unparalleled. You can't I mean, you can't beat that. So I think that's awesome. Yeah, george that you're doing that. And I think you're and, obviously, you're you're gonna you're gonna succeed by continuing that that type of service, you know, because it's it's differentiating yourself from everybody else.

Yeah. It's it's funny. You know, it's not always.

You know, people, I think you know, especially people who get, you know, or new to the sport, you know, it's like,

we we had one guy recently. He he had bought in a... He had purchased a rod, and

his friend had broken in the tip and

I have the same Rod. He was going on a trip and I was like hey. I'll just give you the tip from my rod. And I'll send mine back in so can make your trip. And

and then he he like, oh, that's that's awesome. Man. I really appreciate it, hey. I was looking at this other ride? Can he can you give it to me for twenty percent off And I'm like,

like,

you, like, a a service is in the world

now you you wanna, like, cut out anything I would made, and that's some and the... You know, so it's it's kind of a, you know, I... You you just seem battle a little bit with,

That's that's, you know, that's kind of the hard part. Right?

We're not getting paid to to tie that knot or fix that on. But I mean, nobody's nobody's making anybody at this. And mean, we don't really love it. So, right you know, we making making your payments as nice. And, you know, to be in San Francisco,

just the rent alone is is exorbitant it.

And

you know, it's that that's the challenge is kinda... You do have to make make money, at least break even and

you know, pay yourself a little bit, but,

now when you have a a guy driving in a porsche, she's asking you for a a a discount like, come on man.

Yeah.

Well, what talk about the clientele there because I... You know, it it seems... Is it a mixed bag? I mean, do you have... Are there some sticks that live in the area that have to work down there in there, but they they, you know, they fish every weekend or is are they... Are they mostly, like, I don't know. Almost like collectors that come in and they wanna learn like, how to cast, but maybe aren't too interested in going out on, like, destination trips or anything. What's the... What's the mix of people like... Oh, yeah. You... We've got also All, I mean, at San Francisco. We got all types.

But, you know, generally, I mean, especially with the advent of the surf fishing, you know,

people are fishing a lot more.

And I think that that... That's one of the things when I open the shop.

You know, I was seeing it was becoming harder to fish and not easier to fish, and I think what we've done is is made it easier to go fishing and and to be that voice

reminding you that that the rivers are there for you and and the surface is there for you whenever you need it and and kinda inspiring people to get out there more. And I think we've done a really good job at that.

You know, if you go out to the casting ponds, there's people who just cast and and never really fish. And mh. That's cool. You know, whatever, you know, whatever, you know, I'm I'm not out there to to judge anybody,

you know, we're we're just here to be supportive and if you wanna play line that's gonna

cast sweet at the casting ponds, we're more than happy to set it up for. And if you want something that's gonna,

toss a J and a two Ss gs on the Trinity, we we'll we'll help you out there too.

Yeah. And he just... He basically just used some jargon there people for the ones that are new. You talked about a Barber and some weights. And Yeah. And the and the line required to turn that that kind of a system over.

So...

Okay.

Okay. What I was it gonna, oh, yes. Now. I remember.

So do you do you ever get people that come in and they're just coming in for, like, mental health reasons because we talk about this a lot on the show? I mean, I know personal experience has been that it's kind of, like, helps me if I, you, I I have... I'll go three times where I'm down and, you know, have some depression issues once in a while. And if I go out and fish, like, if I'm in a three day fun, If I go out and fish, Like, the next day of the fourth day. It's, like, boom them out of it.

And I'm wondering if there... Are there people and the pro... You know, professionals that are coming in or whatnot would have you that come in and and they're... If they talked about this kind of phenomenon is it's just kinda like this mindfulness and peace of mind thing for them. Oh,

absolutely. Nice. I think a hundred percent. Yeah. You know, and that that was a lot of us choosing our location was, you know, we're we're just outside for the buildings are really tall. You know, when you're in

when you're in the downtown area and you're... You know, you've got

thirty, forty story buildings, you know, tower above you and cars everywhere. It's pretty... You know, you just you feel that stress. And so, you know, our shop is literally

a block and a half from where all that that is. And so, you know, my my blood pressure would drop when I would go from the old shop to the new shop. Mh. And then trying to create a space that was, you know, is comfortable and kinda of more home meat and less

less, like a retail

store, but a little bit more of a, you know, a, you know, president than than a retail store club outs or something like that. Mh. But yeah.

Folks do come in. It's, like, come in on their lunch break.

Just chap fishing their lined off whatever they're they're focusing on and just kinda reframe. You know, they might be planning for a trip at the month away or a trip on the weekend or stripe. I'm asking about the tides is, you know, in the morning or

whatever it is. It just kinda of takes their mind off it, and,

we see that

and we see people

relax when they get into the store, and that's...

You know, that's a rewarding thing to be be there for people and provide that that relief

for sure.

Yeah.

Well, it's it's really... You know, it's really cool what you've been able to do, you know, given given

just the rent alone. Right?

That's like,

it's pretty impressive. But

what I wanted to talk about was

you know, with with Covid nineteen coming down the... Well, it's it's it's on our interface now.

You know, this ten... This time last week, what was the situation on the street because I think we had just gotten the shelter and you guys had just gotten the shelter in place or has it been about... Yeah. So,

Monday,

I mean, Monday, I was standing in there with

ben and see we're standing in the shop we just got in the news that san Francisco going into shelter in place at midnight. Mh. And

we got nothing done that day. I mean, it was just, like, I don't even, you know, just, like, where do you start? Like,

How do you how do you go from here?

And, so we're were a little bit days and confused for a couple hours.

And

you know, and and then and then from there, you know, kind of the the luxury of being confused

quickly left and, and it was just starting to plan. Okay. What do we need to do to to get through this. And

so it was, you know, schedule meeting with the landlord start conversations about, you know, what are we gonna do about rent?

Checking in with the employees,

you know, seeing what they needed,

and and and how are we gonna get people to buy things without a storefront?

Because, you know, we really

you know, we have a website. It's not something that we've invest. I mean, we have invested a lot of time, but it's not our primary focus. Our primary focus has always been the shop and the customers walking through our front door. That's that's who we've always put the most stock in because that's our local community. Mh And

you know, so it's it's, like, look into website We don't have fly time materials on our website. So, you know, we've been making a huge push to get fly sign materials on our website the last the last couple of days.

And

and then, you know, all the government assistant programs kinda rolling through and regulations and and trying to understand what what all of that means for us. And

it's, yeah. It's been a a it's been a a very challenging time and

you know, and and having a lot of older customers who have, you know, have become close friends and and reaching out to them and see if if they need anything

as

things get closed down and, you know, if they need food or or aren't

aren't going out. So

full plate for sure.

But

you know, I I I do think the, you know, the shelter in place is

necessary.

A necessary step, you know, I wish it would be almost a a level further and just literally stop everything for for a, you know, a month.

And

that or, you know, the the half step to me just doesn't really

I don't know how much sense it makes, but

Yeah. Well, I'm I'm not a I'm not a.

I'm not a doctor. So don't take don't don't take anything guys stay there seriously. Well, I think

I think the doctor would agree with you. I don't know.

The... But the other stakeholders might not.

Yeah. Yeah. So, okay. On the on the,

on the conversations with the landlord and I don't need... Don't give me, like, any specifics, but I assume you have friends that have retail in in the city. And I assume you guys are talking? Are they... Are they... Are the landlord working with the the folks that are renting? Are they being... You know, are they digging their heels in? Like, if be hurting... I mean, it's a it's a case by case basis. You know, ultimately, you know, I, again, you know, I chose...

I felt comfortable about leasing the spot that I did because

the landlord I was dealing with. I liked him.

He's a good person.

He's,

available,

and

he viewed our relationship as a partnership. So, you know, if I go out of business,

he's not gonna make any money. Yeah. You know. And so he he's

he's receptive. You know, we haven't worked out any specific agreements yet. But, you know, he's he's obviously sympathetic and he's in the same boat as ivan. If you look at the building,

you know, there's there's another vacant space. There's

a bridal

store. They're not selling many

wedding dresses right now. Mh.

A care place and,

like, a women's boutique and

know, I talked to the women's boutique, and they basically have resigned a closing end.

They that they figured this would would ruin them for sure.

And so, you know, he's... You you know, he's in the same boat. I am trying to figure out. So, you know, we gotta work together to to

to survive. Yeah. What's what's the city been like,

you know, just in the evolution of this whole process?

And just, like, put traffic and cars driving, and, I mean, our people, and you see people, and I want I wanted to talk about this at at some point is, you know, we've been seeing a lot of people

taking advantage of this situation and just going out to the rivers and getting outside and going fishing. And then you see, you know, you see some guides upset that people are still guiding and taking people fishing and and not, know, abiding by this quarantine and it's it's just kinda interesting

times, but

I'm sure we can talk about that a little bit more. But,

yeah. I was just curious about what it would what would been like there, you know,

so it's, you know, San Francisco is,

you know, a lot of the bars and restaurants have plywood over the windows.

So that's kinda eerie. Mh.

Not not much traffic. Not many people walking around, you know,

coming in on the bridge. You know, we've been going to the shop,

about once a day to to fill orders, you know, being being super careful. When I

pull up the gate on the front of the store,

and, you know, it's, like, full hand wash, you know,

rubber everything, you know, just taking every precaution possible to

you know, to not

spread or, you know, or get the coronavirus.

I'm I'm less worried about getting I'm more worried about spreading.

But I, you know, I probably should be more worried about getting it.

But

San Francisco. It's it's a it's more or less a ghost town. You see some people walking around, and you see groups of some younger kids hanging out, but it's

it's pretty desolate right now.

Have have a lot of put... People like, bugged out and gone to their, you know, parents or or just relatives out of out of the, you know, the the

intense urban population there. They just kind of, like, gone into the, you know,

I I definitely get that sense. Yeah. I mean, you know, a lot of the lot of people who have, you know, second homes and things like that probably took the opportunity to... To head out there.

And, yeah, and had to parent house or, you know, friend's house that are outside of the city,

Ben who works for me. He's staying with me here,

you know, just so that way, you know, we're the only two people interacting with each other.

And, you know, and then, you know, on the topic of, you know, going fishing.

I think I think everybody needs to be very careful with that. You know, while it is,

this is extremely, you know,

mentally taxing time and and definitely looking for that relief that you were, alluding to earlier Chad.

You know, crossing county lines, filling up gas bumps, you know, all that stuff is you you're you're putting in yourself and other people at risk. And so, you know, my approach has been, you know, stay away from the, you know, anything that I think is gonna be remotely populated.

And using it as an opportunity, Like, on Sunday,

I went and walked, you know, six and a half miles of s with ben,

and we didn't see anybody.

You know, I definitely could've have gone to the spot where I know I could caught fish there been, like, two or three other people there. And it's like, wyatt, you know, wyatt it wave and take that risk and go out some new spots and try and get away from people.

I think that's kinda of, you know, limiting your human app interaction is is really important. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's a... In person.

Yeah. I mean, it's a when I first started fishing my first year, I... I went solo a lot. And, you know, if it's a good time to it's a good excuse to go Solo if you're gonna go just to make sure you tell somebody where you're gonna go. And I think to to George's point, don't go anywhere where you... You're gonna have to fuel twice, you know?

And if you do fuel wear some gloves, you know, just be smart about it, or if you're gonna go... If you absolutely can't go by yourself,

maybe take two cars, you know,

if you absolutely aid the fix.

Hey, Georgia I'm you mentioned that you are fulfilling orders. Can you just plug that real quick for listeners

I don't know if you're you got flight tank kits or materials that you can send out or... Or what that what that means to? Yeah. A couple whole thing doing that real quick.

Yeah. So,

we're available.

So, yeah. We've got full compliment of,

you know, fly fly and materials. We've just added to our website like,

six, twelve, eighteen and twenty four packs of flies for all the major rivers in California to make it really easy to say. Hey I'm going to U,

choose out. We're gonna pick out, you know, six or twelve or however many choose of the best flies for the current season,

you know, for the Yu for, you know, whatever river you want. We we put them all in there. So

that's one option for flies. We have our website, which

has most everything that. I mean, we have a lot more inventory in our shop than we have on our website. You know, as I mentioned, you know, we've been very community focused on on our local community Of only really started investing in the website because we found that our... Some of our customers,

we prefer to shop online and they prefer to shop online with us.

So we've been building that out over time.

So that's an option, and then we're always a a phone call with you know, four one five four eight three two two seven eight,

or an email away to be able to help you out.

But I do think Mh. You know, if you're listening to this and you're in, you know, Sacramento. I mean, you should be hitting up your shops in Sacramento.

I know. I think that's, you know, I sent out a message last week, in a blog post

that was was really around us, but, you know, the concept was being choppy local, and and I think it can be applied to. You know, wherever you are and whatever you're looking to buy. I think it's really important time to invest in our communities, whether it's grocery shopping,

you know,

try and find a local groceries is trying to survive through all this,

you know, whole foods is gonna be okay. Yeah.

You know, and and

you know, I hope the ups shot of all of this is, you know, one of the ups shots is that, you know, we we realize that the community, and

you know, for example, the ability is to manufacture, and I'll just make...

One small tangent here.

I. So I was speaking with Casey Walsh,

who was a former President of Sims,

and they're re towing the waiter factory right now to make n ninety five masks and ga,

for medical professionals. So... Wow,

per pretty cool. You know, that having that ability in Bo, Montana,

when everybody else is out outsource Wait or manufacturing

Yeah. It just... It it was cool to hear about me,

I'm really proud of them for for making that change. Is that is that something... I keep hearing a buzzing Is is there somebody getting text messages and it's... Buzzing. So what's going on? Probably George. He's a busy man now. Yeah. Alright. Yeah. I'm getting some me. Okay. No worries.

I'll try and turn it off here. You... After the call, can I get?

You've got a vi that that's low on batteries there, buddy.

Let me plug that thing in.

Can can I get can I get, contact information for the the the dude at Sims because that would be interesting to talk about, like, how the reach what are, you know, the steps to re tool a factory, and, you know to go from later? Absolutely. From go to waiters to mass seems like a leap, big leap. So that that that'd be a... I mean, they they... They're... You know, it's all showing, and yeah. You know, they're gonna... You know they're gonna breathe well. Right Yeah. Court score second matt.

Great.

Okay. So you talk... You were talking about mitigation steps, and and, obviously, you guys are ramping up inventory on the on the website. You're talking to your your landlord about, you know, maybe getting a, a rep reprieve on the on the, the lease.

Is there anything else that you're working on?

Yeah. I mean, touching base with, you know, all of our, you know, all the guides we work closely with all of our vendors you know, it's, I I don't think you can have enough communication right now. Yeah.

You know, with with people in your, you know, in your community.

And, yeah. So talking with the, you know our our vendors saying, you know, what's your situation? I mean, a lot of our vendors are probably not gonna be shipping here pretty soon.

You know, we've gotten more for than what notice, the companies that are are stopping production, stock and shipping.

All of these things are are starting to come into play.

And,

You know, it's it's you know, it's important for me to understand understand what the, you know, next two, three days look like. I'm not even worried about weeks, month sometimes. Yeah.

One day at a time right now. So

you know, just trying to get a clear picture of where they're at and how I can be helpful to them and and understand how they might feel able to help me. Yeah.

You... And then other shops as well. No. I I just I had a call with

you know,

justin Miller over the shop the other day. Just check in with See how he's doing, and

you know, I called, fly water travel up in National in Oregon was chatting... You know, the travel companies were getting hammered right now. I mean,

they're having to cancel trips and they're dealing with all these lodge and

you know, the the logistics that's a, a nightmare. Yeah. But, you know, everybody's saying pretty pretty positive, pretty upbeat about it and trying to just trying to get through it.

Yeah. And and you touched on a on a point that I just wanna pull pull a thread on a little bit more, and that's around

you know, you you said being able to communicate with these over communicate almost with. With folks that you're, you know, you're in a business relationship with, either they owe you money or you owe that money is typically how it works.

You know, rather than, you know, getting your own head in terms of, like,

thinking through worst case scenarios and you know, trying to decide how they're gonna react if you can't pay on time or how you're gonna react if somebody comes up to you and and asks, you know, if they can get, you know, a couple weeks, a couple more weeks or three more weeks or they just can't pay rather than, like, spin that top in your head, it is good to just call these folks and get on the phone and, you know, where... It's kind of everybody got... They're in the same boat. Right? And I think that if everybody talks to their supply chain up and down, you know, north and south to come in

accounts receivable accounts,

and and accounts payable that

you know, you have those discussions be transparent about it, And I think you'd be surprised it it will relieve some stress

if you can do that. I've had to do that. Absolutely. You know. Had to do that myself, and and... And talking from experience

it did release some stress. So that's a tip.

Yeah. That I I think that's

you, really important note. I, you know, I worked for other places, and, you know, I I call it sticking your head in the... Stands, you know, where you're trying to ignore a problem and. Yeah.

You know, and and there's usually an easy solution to it out there as long as he communicate and

you know, that... That's that's one of the great things about this industry and what I what I love about is there there's so many fans so many great people and people who are, you know, here for the long haul and know that that this is just a this is a blip, hopefully, you know, that's Yeah. That we're gonna get through this and

we get on the other side of it. We'll

the stronger will get stronger and the week will probably go away, but

you know, I hope them on getting stronger side

through our best.

Yeah.

Well,

What else?

There was there was some To do with the your attitude towards things in your character, just going back to what you said about hoping all the other shops, you know, succeed. I mean, that... That says a lot about who you are.

I think that's, you know, gonna... That's gonna make you... It already is making me stronger and, you know, definitely get, you know, as just said day by day, do it one day at a time.

What you don't be a step ahead just in that just thinking that, you know, one note on that is, you know, when our manufacturers on our shipping. I mean, that's that's the other thing I haven't really touched on is the nightmare of getting shipments right now right now, you know,

in San Francisco.

Ups and Fedex, you know, they just... Everything's a nightmare to try. You know, we've had boxes we've been trying to get redirected and, you know, it causes a lot of,

a lot more additional work than we'd normally be dealing with.

And so, you know, our our manufacturers likely a lot of them won't be shipping in a week from now. And so, you know, we're gonna have to use our network of flash shops to, you know, help help each other out and fulfill orders. You know, I might have a rod that...

You know, fly gene specialties or or the fly shop needs, and they might have one that I need

for a customer so, you know, now gotta work together to to to all trend and out of us.

Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, it's just gonna... It it it is gonna take, you know, us,

everyone working in in

concert with each other that's, you know, you know, from the the consumer to the retailer to the supply chain all the way down. You know?

Absolutely.

You know, that's... The, you know, the other the other aspect of this is you know, on... On the cal trial board,

and you know, we're we're planning

an auction for, you know, the biggest fundraiser raise are for the air from for May first.

And we're we're moving that to a virtual format.

And so,

you know, again, it's, you know, a challenge... You know, a challenging time to be

working on, you know, asking companies for for donations and and

I've been pleasantly surprised with how receptive everybody is to, you know, to still being generous and giving. Yeah. Throughout this process and and And I... That's that's one note. I would also like to stress as our customers of have,

really stepped up, They bought a lot of gift certificates that Dave.

You know, even just words of support and encouragement are huge.

You know, when when you go into a simple business,

I joke that you know, it's just one kicking the ball after the next,

you know, with

intermittent good times. Yeah. That's like. That's a that's a light way of putting it.

Yeah. Totally. So

so this, you know, we we had our shop broken two three times in

in at the end of the year last year. And and so we're we're just kinda getting over that hurdle, and and then this this comes down our our pipeline. And

you know, I'm I'm not I'm not a not a quit, but, you know,

the thought crosses your mind is like, oh, my god. What is this gonna add.

So just to get get a a nice note from a customer who who says how much they appreciate what you're doing is is is really cool. And and if it doesn't take much effort, and I'm not... I'm not asking for everybody's to me nice notes. But if, you know, if there's a business in your community that you appreciate

they probably appreciate a word of encouragement right now.

Yeah. And I mean, on that note, if you guys wanna, like, do something that, you know, is measurable and and would add value to to George if you if you can't support them financially, which, I, totally understand if you can't,

get on Google and give them a rating and review on on Google Local. You know, just go to get on get on Google maps and search for search search for the business, Las Coast Outfitters on Google in San Francisco when it comes up,

leave a review.

And leave a good review. That helps.

And for all your... I do that for all your local shops wherever whatever region you're in, that's one way to do it, you know, to help. Because that'll that'll actually add value when when people start wanting to buy again online, they're gonna start searching and that work you put in now after this this episode airs, that work you do for them, we'll help down the road. It'll help them recover that much faster.

Well, and thank you guys for for having me on to. It's huge help and you guys have been generous and

really appreciate it.

Yeah. I'm stoked to have you guys is

great voice for the community and and to be here. It's it's Okay cool to see you guys build this thing. It's it's been incredible.

Yeah. We're, you know, we're... We got a... We're... It's a little slow right now, obviously. But you know, we're we're trying to just be there. And and we got... We got a really nice note today from... I don't know. Did you see that one on Facebook, Nick, did the guy sent us?

Yeah. Yeah. It's just something to the effect that, hey. Thank you for, you know, keeping keeping the lights on on the show. It's getting it's helping me get through some pretty dark times, and, you know, that's why we're doing it. So Thank you for. There was one before that a dad said,

you know, he's, like, I I had given up. I I worked a fly vision anymore or, you know, I I just I was over it. And then my son introduced me to the podcast and then I'm back. I'm back in it. I've never... I've never been having this much fun. And and I have a lot of a lot of things to you guys. And just to hear that was like, it was kind of... It was awesome, very humbling, but awesome.

Yeah. My... I mean, I I said this on the the the episode that

will will have aired it dish aired today, but it'll be for when you guys listen to this, it'll be last week.

You know, I think that people are gonna be forced to go out, you know, to get outdoors because there's not much else to do

that's that's kind of safe quote unquote. And I think that they're gonna have some ancillary benefit that they didn't realize was, you know, that they probably forgotten they were getting when they were doing its kid and may reconnect them to the outdoors.

And I I expect a sustained

bump in the industry because of it. I think that that's what's gonna happen. So what we'll see if that plays true, but I think that's where my gut telling me.

I think you're right. I think

I mean, I I think we've we've already been seeing an uptick in people going outdoors, you know, just the the nature of

jobs you save or to be sort of sedentary and stuck buying computers and phones and Yeah. In conference calls and all that. And so

nothing... Like you said, nothing can really pull out of a fun, like, just being outside and whether it's phishing or or whatever it is.

You know, it's it's there for you. It's always gonna be there. I mean, it's assuming we do our jobs to protect it. But... Yeah.

It's

I I think it's here. It's not going away. It's

it'll be here for a long time.

Yeah. I think so too.

Well, thanks for coming on, George.

It how today, what can folks do other than if they've... If they got some extra money to spend,

which you're fortunate you... I mean, I...

I'm not asking yeah. I'm not asking anybody to, go out and buy something that they don't want or need or anything like that. But I I think the, you know, the message that I wanna convey is,

you know, if if you're going to buy anything fly fishing related,

and

you consider us your local shop.

I would implore you to to buy it from us, You know, at the end of the day, you know, Amazon doesn't need any money.

They're gonna be fine through all this. They're they're are probably actually doing better now than they were before.

But, you know, spend your money locally, spend your money,

if you vote with dear dollars. So, you know, at the end of the day, you know, both vote for the companies that you want want to stick around and the people are given back to the community,

and and working hard to make it and where it'll actually make a difference.

I love the idea that Google review.

I think that's... I think that's important.

You know, And I'm not... I I don't wanna be super. I don't wanna be selfish. I that. You, I want this to apply to all local businesses because it it is it is important that our communities are vibrant. Employ people

in are successful and, able to get back.

It's it's it's huge. So...

Yeah. If you're considering making a fly efficient purchase, I I hope you make it with Los coast Outfitters and

we'll be here. We'll give you great service and we'll work really hard for you.

Cool. To touch on that a little bit. I mean, and

almost a little over ten years ago, we dealt with this last financial crisis,

and we lost,

half our flow shots in California.

And

I don't... You know, I don't think that this... I think we're we're gonna bounce back just as

aggressive at, you know, a little bit more aggressive than that period of time. But

we can't

going back to Georgetown. And again, we can't lose this service. Just the fact of what they do out of that shop, you know, the fact that we don't have as many other those shops providing that services is the detrimental to sport and they're doing so much

to help us and just walk through the door and ask questions to get answers without I having haven't spend any money is it's huge.

But obviously, you know, definitely support these guys because we don't wanna we don't wanna lose anymore of them or the their service because it's

been invaluable.

Yeah.

I you wanna highlight just kinda two, you know, two other

things that that we work really hard on, and and that's, you know our local veterans programs,

youth programs.

We work with Barry fly fishers myself and employees call donate time to both of those programs.

And you know, it's it's... Don't get me wrong it's hugely rewarding and.

But, you know, that... That's the kind of things that we do.

And with the... You know, we do have any profit, You know, it's not like we're

rolling and heavy or anything like that. Where, you know, we're we're, you know, Cal trial to huge priority,

and giving back to the community. That's that's where we see.

That's where we wanna add value to and, your support helps us do that. And

yeah, we're we're really proud to be

the this San francisco area flash shop.

Yeah.

You guys are killing it so keep keep on killing it.

Guys are doing a good job. Like Chad was talking about earlier just really good job. Yeah. And and be... And thanks Cal out for, you know, sponsoring us through this time.

That's you know, you guys are keeping the lights on. So thank you.

One of these days I wanna come on and talk about, like, seal additional or something we should do

See you'll have,

jill one... So one year. This is kind of two years ago I decided I wanted to go to

And this length because I had a trip to Rush on the books. I figured I could go to Alaska british Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California and Russian, catch Seal in the entire range.

Mh. That was. That was a fun a fun adventure, we should we should do a little little treat you did all that in one year. And what three or sixty five days. Oh, wait. You did that. You're not just, like, saying a bucket list thing? No. Probably did it. Jesus That's awesome. Yeah. Solutions. That's a that's a two hour podcast right there. Yeah. That's like a. That's like a Benjamin made Benjamin button episode. We're gonna call it. Yeah Exactly.

Have to... We'll have to chat about that. That was a cool. Not killer.

Never... It'll never happen again for me, But

those

fun to do well while I had the opportunity. Yeah. That's killer.

Wow.

Yeah. We're definitely gonna talk about that, dude. That's kill. That's awesome.

Alright. Alright, guys. Well, Hey. I appreciate your time. It's huge help and stay strong.

Take care of your families and

g man. Yeah. We'll we'll get through this.

Alright. You guys. Thanks for listening. If you if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on itunes or Google Player, will else you get your podcasts.

Nick, are you good?

Yeah. Sidelines everybody. George, Thanks again, brother.

Thank you. You guys.

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