| For someone who just switched to a solid plastic lure, I can say that the price per lure is justified. Yes, wood lures are more difficult to produce, but the upfront costs of getting a manufacturer to machine, mold and run a lure in large quantities is ENORMOUS. These small lure manufacturers are forking over $5,000-$10,000 to take a very important next step in their businesses. In addition, if they want to keep per-piece prices reasonable, they need to commit to thousands of lures....not just hundreds. The cost per-piece is much more than the small piece of wood in their hand, so the bill for the lure blanks is thousands of dollars as well. All before a single lure is sold.
I have written in length about this before on my facebook page, but I think it's important to reemphasize that progress in the lure industry shows that there is growth potential. The market is telling lure manufacturers they don't mind plastic. I have had VERY few conversations about wood versus plastic as I visit with customers at sport shows. I understand nostalgia, but plastic has allowed me to produce a more consistent product AND expand my color offerings. This year I was able to take our popular 9" model and scale it perfectly to a 7" model that I think anglers will like even more--all because of plastic. I NEVER would have made this 7" model without plastic--had I attempted it, I would not be typing now due to loss of fingers. There are just so many advantages.
Any angst due to an influx of plastic lures is, in my mind, simply a longing for days gone by. It is that same industriousness that produced those hundreds of wood lures that is driving these small scale manufacturers to take a risk and move to plastic. In addition, I am proud to say, that our plastic lures are injection molded right in my hometown. I am helping to give friends and neighbors employment opportunities. Those friends and neighbors have in turn helped me expand my business by purchasing lures from me--lures they helped to build.
I now feel more committed to my lure business now than I ever did when we were cutting wood lures. The future looks brighter, the potential is greater and the satisfaction amongst my customers is the same if not better. Thanks for listening.
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