Zoom Bait Update : Here's The Truthful Status

[ChrisD46]

*Living in Georgia I was able to ask reputable sources what is the current status  of Zoom and both commercial sources who buy from Zoom shared the same news update :  The original owner of Zoom passed away and the son is now running the company (for better or for worse) . For a number of reasons (COVID , economy , etc.) Zoom has lost a "substantial number" of it's work force (while I know the number - out of respect I'll simply say it's over 50%) . Additionally , like for other soft plastic & lure companies - obtaining raw materials has been a real challenge for Zoom (some fare better at developing new sources for raw materials than others currently) ... So ,  if you combine a greatly reduced work force and challenges in obtaining raw materials one can begin to understand Zoom's current business status . While there is always a "deal you can't refuse" out there waiting for an owner (i.e. Zoom) - this is not on the front burner as an active conversation currently . Vaccinations are up , COVID is in decline , unemployment benefits run out soon in Georgia  , economic conditions will  improve and raw materials will start flowing again globally so that Zoom's soft plastic production in Georgia can begin to crank back up once more to pre-COVID levels . Conversely ,  if in 6 ~ 12 months we do not see an improved Zoom presence back in the bass fishing market - then one would have to consider there are other reasons for Zoom's struggles (i.e. debt , difficulty securing funding , how the son is running the company vs. the founding father ran the company  , etc.) 

 

Of interest to note : A competitor to Zoom (NetBait) an American BaitWorks company  located just across the border in Alabama is doing quite well for itself ... NetBait is the maker of the T-Mac  , C-Mac , Finesse worms ,  Paca Craws , Paca Chunks , Little Spanky , etc. and is developing a nice following for their soft plastics (just as YUM has done as noted by Bluebasser 86 and others here) .

 

To end - just a courtesy public service announcement for bass fans here ... We all want to see our favorite bass fishing lure & equipment  suppliers bounce back from the COVID /  economic challenges we have all faced over the last 16 months ... Here's wishing Zoom a healthy return to the bass fishing market position they once held pre- COVID !

[Deleted account]

4 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

The original owner of Zoom passed away...

Three years ago. Wear your respirators when pouring indoors...

[00bullitt]

I live around the corner from Zoom in Watkinsville and drive by their facility often. There does not appear to be a shortage of cars in their parking lot at any hour of the day. 

I think demand is higher than its ever been and their capacity can only support so much output; that also depends on vendor supply for raw materials.

Management may be in question, and thats another issue in and of itself.

[Luke Barnes]

While its the medical supply field, I can attest to raw material shortages. Whether it's plastisol or plastic for tubing we use, its hard getting the raw materials to make the lures and various other things. But it will pass and hopefully return to normal. 

[bowhunter63]

Been using Zoom forever. Hope they make a comeback.

[WRB]

Zoom was a good size owner run company and should have a priority status with suppliers regarding purchasing plastisol.

The goodwill goes away fast if the company is slow paying the vendors, very difficult to overcome.

Wish the Zoom company good luck, it’s a tough road to overcome a 50% down turn.

Tom 

[QED]

44 minutes ago, WRB said:

Zoom was a good size owner run company and should have a priority status with suppliers regarding purchasing plastisol.

The goodwill goes away fast if the company is slow paying the vendors, very difficult to overcome.

Wish the Zoom company good luck, it’s a tough road to overcome a 50% down turn.

Tom 

 

In the earlier zoom thread you stated, inter alia: "A buyer like Pure Fishing is purchasing the product name and products tooling etc."

 

Was that pure speculation then?  And if so, perhaps you should have framed it as such.

[ChrisD46]

2 hours ago, 00bullitt said:

I live around the corner from Zoom in Watkinsville and drive by their facility often. There does not appear to be a shortage of cars in their parking lot at any hour of the day. 

I think demand is higher than its ever been and their capacity can only support so much output; that also depends on vendor supply for raw materials.

Management may be in question, and thats another issue in and of itself.

*Good to hear the parking lot is filling ... A couple of sizeable raw materials shipments can help turn the corner at any given time . 

[Bird]

Wish the company the best. 

Hard to imagine the demise of trick worms and flukes......I'm optimistic. 

 

[Columbia Craw]

Zoom is one of the iconic names in bass fishing and I really hope they rebound soon.

[TcRoc]

Swung by Dicks sporting goods today as was passing by, this location actually has a nice size fishing section.. there was a very large selection of zoom baits .. only thing I did not see was their Z craw , luckily I have large stock of them myself . 

[Koz]

Supply chains are still in chaos across the country. I have a 6-8 week wait to buy linens and terry. Then Friday I found out guest room shampoo has a backorder of three weeks and I had to buy an overpriced substitute on Amazon.

 

Staff wise I'm down 3 room attendants and a sales manager. But the restaurant next door has it much worse.

 

They are a popular restaurant and when they are open they are packed, but have been limited to opening only 3 days a week. But it got worse for them this weekend. Despite it being a holiday weekend and having my sold out hotel next door, they kept their doors shut due to lack of staff.

 

It's really bad out there, despite what some news stations may be saying.

[Fred Allen]

Nobody wants to work. They made it way to easy to sit at home and get paid to do nothing. Its a great opportunity for those few modern young people to get a foot in the door someplace. Been at my job for 20 years and happy but all the sign bonuses, benefits and huge starting wages almost got me looking into a new job. 

 

Luckily a job opened up in another department for 3 dollars more an hour. If I get that I will stay nd keep my sonority with the company. 

 

The guy I would be replacing got an insane deal of a job. Making 25 an hour as a high school drop out just because places are desperate for anyone who will show up to work they do on job training too anyone willing. 

 

I keep telling everyone this is a once in a lifetime situation where the worker has leverage over the employers and jump on it now to get a foot in the door with a high wage. 

 

Once the free money dries up and the market is flooded with people needing work its going to be tough again for workers.