Help: Custom Rods & Baits Guys.

[Captain Obvious]

I need to talk to some guys who have experience making custom rods or baits for other people whom they have never met . I'd like to ask some questions about the process of taking a customers idea and make it come into come true.

If you rather not talk about it on the open forums just pm me and we can do it there.

Capt.O

[J Francho]

Not anything fishing related, but fish tanks, up to about $40K installs....

Custom is ALL ABOUT digging deep to find the clients' EXPECTATIONS.

They may have requirements, but the expectations are where you can shine.

[Siebert Outdoors]

This is a question that you just ask the customer what he wants, what action he is looking for, what his technique is. This also comes with experience of the builder. As a builder you must know what or how to interpret the customers requests.

Building a specific lure for a specific person isnt a general build.  Like JF said.  This is custom in general.  Not just fishing. 

[Captain Obvious]

My next question is how do you go about it?

Do you talk with them over the phone or just by email?

Do you make multiple prototypes until their happy or can you get it right the first time from a description?

How much more do you charge for a custom order?

Things like that.

I'm mainly talking about custom paint jobs for hard baits, soft plastic colors, and custom rods.

Capt.O

[Jigfishn10]

I only make custom lures for friends, but I design additions to existing homes which in a sense is the same. JF is spot on about digging deep. I try to at least set up 2 initial meetings. The first is a meet and greet, get to know the person and then slide into what the customer is looking for. This initial meeting will only be about a 10-20 minute meeting. 

I'll then go back and sketch something up and will write down a series of questions or thoughts I have while doing the sketch. This will become the document I use for our next meeting agenda where I'll be able to at least extract 75% of the needs and wants from that customer.

The 2 meetings may sound like a prolonged process, but at least you can get a foundation before you start putting in the bells and whistles which will take their ideas and expectations to the next level.

Unfortunately, custom doesn't mean generic.

[Siebert Outdoors]

How much more do you charge for a custom order?

That depends on3 things.  Your costs, how much you value your time, and how much time.

[Captain Obvious]

So I guess my biggest question is then could or would you make a custom order with a "middle man".

I'm talking about fishing products here cause I know that houses and fish tanks are too high price to do that with.

I'm taking about small things like a soft plastic bait color, custom Jig skirt, a custom crankbait color, things that won't break the bank.

Capt.O

[Jigfishn10]

Why not make a few prototype colors and present those and you can tweak as you go?

[Skeeterman225]

Thought I would chime in since this is the majority of what I do.

I consider what I do to be two things "standard" and "custom". Sometimes those come together as one also. What I have pictured on my website as far as colors go, whether it's a skirt or leadhead, is what I consider "standard". The "custom" comes into play when a customer wants a different hook, skirt color, exact number of strands of one color, or any other modification of the "standard" stuff. Full custom comes from starting from scratch and working your way up. The ONLY way to get what the customer wants is commmunication. You may feel like you are asking too many questions and at some points I'm sure your customer might think it too, BUT I promise you if you get what they want the first go around, they'll forget all about the questions and be quite pleased.

[.dsaavedra.]

Thought I would chime in since this is the majority of what I do.

I consider what I do to be two things "standard" and "custom". Sometimes those come together as one also. What I have pictured on my website as far as colors go, whether it's a skirt or leadhead, is what I consider "standard". The "custom" comes into play when a customer wants a different hook, skirt color, exact number of strands of one color, or any other modification of the "standard" stuff. Full custom comes from starting from scratch and working your way up. The ONLY way to get what the customer wants is commmunication. You may feel like you are asking too many questions and at some points I'm sure your customer might think it too, BUT I promise you if you get what they want the first go around, they'll forget all about the questions and be quite pleased.

this right here. ^

i ask the customer to be as descriptive as possible or even provide a picture if they can whenever i'm doing custom work. the more info you have on what they want the easier it is for you to get it to them.