Trapping In The Digital Era

Trapping is something that is very primitive in nature. It dates back to roughly the 4^th century BC. Since then there have been many changes but the sport and lifestyle itself is still very primitive. The idea of it really hasn’t changed and even many of the tactics are still the same as they were all of those years ago. There has of course been many changes in equipment due to technology but a lot of trappers still tend to use natural bindings and material for their trapping efforts. With this knowledge it would be a surprise to hear that technology and the “Digital Era” are changing everything about this primitive sport.

Trapping now is very different from even in the early 1900s. Trapping as an industry has been slowing adapting to the digital era. There used to be two ways to learn how to trap, either one read how to trap out of a book, or they were taught about a veteran trapper. In the age of trapping we live in now, there is a new medium to learn the ways of the trapper. The Internet has single handedly changed how we learn as human beings. This is the same for trapping. The Internet now allows for people to self teach on virtually any subject. Whether it is just doing a search and reading an article, or utilizing specialized sites such as YouTube, there are many ways to learn how to trap. I personally taught myself how to become an avid trapper via YouTube. There is information on anything related to trapping whether it is various techniques, or even types of equipment.

The business aspect of trapping has also taken off on the Internet. The main website to purchase everything needed for trapping is F&T Trading Post. This website has transformed how trappers get their gear. There is a wide array of brands, tools, and other trapping necessities. This is huge in the trapping industry because before the Internet, trappers would have to go to a store and would have a very limited selection of products. Most of the time trappers would end up making their own items.

In conclusion the Internet has revolutionized an industry that has roots back close to the beginning of “Man”. Although the idea of trapping may be close to the same, the equipment, techniques, and learning styles, are all very different. This change has caused a modern day gold rush for businesses with a strong website and Internet presence.

Primos Hunting Calls

Primos Hunting, is one of the top brands in terms of hunting calls, gear, and other accessories. I decided to review the company and discuss some strengths and weakness of the company itself, but also of the website they use to sell the majority of their product.

Even though Primos is a top brand in the industry they have something that is rather unique. Primos, is a manufacturer as well as a retailer. However, they do not own a traditional brick and mortar store. Instead, Primos relies on major retailers such as Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops to sell their merchandise as well as the Primos website. This unique selling tactic really makes Primos stand out and in a negative way. I say this because Primos loses a lot of advertisement just by not having their own retail store. This lack of a physical location makes Primos dependent upon other retailers to purchase their products and help in the marketing efforts.

The Primos website is top of the line. The website is very modern which is an advantage in the outdoor industry. It has a very use friendly feel to it and navigation is fast and easy for the consumer. All of the different departments are clearly marked to save the consumer time when they are searching for products or even just browsing the site for the latest in hunting technology. The website overall has an accurate theme that represent the company very well. Even if one were to view the site and have no prior knowledge of the brand, he or she would be able to identify the type of company that was selling merchandise.

Strengths	Weaknesses	Opportunities	Threats
Quality Products Strong Brand Name Strong Online Presence High Demand	High Price No Physical Location	Expanding Market Younger Generation Entering the Market Increased Use of Internet	Many Competitors Seasonal In Nature

Hunting and Fishing is Big Business

I stumbled upon a great article about the Hunting and Fishing industry in the U.S. and how much the industry is actually worth. Hunting and Fishing is Big Business, has many statistics that indicates the true power of the industry in a numbers format. They state that the Hunting and Fishing Industry is about a $192 billion dollar industry when considering all of the purchases that are made for the sport itself. If the Hunting and Fishing Industry was one single entity it would be among the top 20 business in the nation. That statistic is simply astounding.

So now that we know the significance of that industry, what should we take away from it? Well, as someone who wants to own a business someday I am taking away the knowledge of knowing how many consumers there are that want outdoor based products. I know that there is a huge market for outdoor gear, apparel, and other products that relate to hunting and fishing. If I as a business owner can understand the trends in the industry as well as the needs of the customers, then I can make a fortune even if I just focus on this single market.  Even retailers like Walmart, have become to add more shelves for the needs of Outdoorsmen. They have realized the potential of this market and are using it to make sales that are being missed by other retailers.

Utilizing E-Marketing For The Seasons (Retailers)

Retail is an industry that is very competitive in nature. Retailers use the seasons to boost sales quarterly and rely specifically on the last quarter to turn profits for the year. I will be using all outdoor retailers such as: Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops. Inside of these two retailers I will discuss the hunting and fishing departments within the stores. Both stores depend heavily upon seasons to turn a profit.

Spring is a busy month for both Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops. This is a big season for both because of hunting and fishing seasons. The time of the year determines what animals are in season to hunt. In the spring both retailers are planning for Turkey and Fishing season. Both stores will fill shelves with everything dedicated to both seasons. Clothing will change from warm clothing with snow camouflage style, to light weight colored with more brighter greens. Not only can one expect change in clothing but also all of the gear. New calls will be displayed for turkeys, fishing poles and all other accessories will be put out for the fishing season. Literally, the entire store will undergo a complete makeover due to the changing of seasons. Spring is just one of the four seasons but the change occurs during all four of the seasons.

Because of the changing seasons it is critical that retailers stay up to date with their advertising especially their presence online. E-marketing is vital for retailers to stay ahead of the competition in the sense that they need to have their ads posted and all promotions advertised as soon as possible while maintaining great reach. E-Marketing allows for retailers to quickly and cheaply let customers know of new merchandise for the upcoming season, or allows them to know of liquidation pricing on the previous season’s leftover stock. Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops are competitors to each other. After browsing both of the websites it is my opinion that Cabela’s has the superior website. This is based on the ease of use of the website as well the running home page that displays special promotions. Cabela’s has a far superior home page that promotes sales and new arrivals of products.