Company, the predecessor to the handful of Shakespeare businesses in operation during the 1990s. From its start, however, the company was best known for its reels, the signature product of the William Shakespeare Jr. Shakespeare proved to be an astute businessman, however, by not letting the parade of one successful reel after another lull him into complacency. Shakespeare’s response was to diversify, to develop other businesses outside the sporting goods industry and thereby reduce his company’s dependence on the vagaries of the nation’s economy and the changing seasons.
Seeing as though I was only 5 years old when Ugly Stik rods hit the shelves in 1976, I didn’t know much about anything. For my money, these corporate machinations detract from the sport, art, and romance of angling. I’d also use them for sitting on the dock with a drink and a comfy camp chair, dangling a shrimp at whatever, while I stared off into the lake or riverside vista.
Freshwater fishermen from around the world hold this one rod, and now a family of rods, in the highest of regards. The Ugly Stik line started in 1976 with the introduction of the very first Ugly Stik fishing rod. Shakespeare utilized the groundbreaking process called the ‘Howald Process’ and was the first to feature a clear-tip and ‘Ferruless’ construction design. Such longevity in the ridiculously competitive angling market suggests shakespeare fishing reel rods have been getting it right, and probably from inception. If nothing else, the Shakespeare fishing rods mentioned above represent great value and good performance. Generally speaking, Shakespeare produces good fishing rods that are very affordable and highly suitable for the average angler.
In 1990, Britain-based Nymofil, Ltd. was acquired and merged into Shakespeare Monofilament and in 1991 the decorative light pole business belonging to Stanhope Inc. was acquired to strengthen Shakespeare Electronic & Fiberglass’s business. In 1959, the company widened the scope of its operations by acquiring Waverly, Ohio-based Parallel Products Company, a maker of archery equipment that was organized into Shakespeare’s Columbia Products subsidiary. Next, the company made its first move into a foreign market, forming a subsidiary in Canada named Shakespeare Company (Canada) Limited in 1960. Located in a suburb of Toronto, Shakespeare’s Canadian subsidiary marketed sporting goods to Canadian markets. By the mid-1960s, diversification into the production of automotive parts, golf equipment, and archery, coupled with steady geographic and physical expansion, had created a formidably-sized Shakespeare enterprise. Multifaceted and poised for expansion on three fronts, the company was collecting nearly $50 million in annual sales midway through the 1960s and showed no signs of slowing its growth.
Other Shakespeare tackle includes trolleys for ease of transportation, luggage and chairs for longer, comfier stays when carp fishing. Provide your account email address to receive an email to reset your password.We have changed website platforms. I remember when I was a kid I couldn’t wait to get my hands on an Ugly Stik.
The 9 footer copes well with decent stripies and drum from the surf, while not being overkill for 2 and 3-pound largemouth bass or smallmouth bass, casting cranks from the bank. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. It’s also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, you’ll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more.
He named it the “level-wind,” and took his creation on his next fishing trip. The level-wind worked well, drawing the line in evenly without the aid of a thumb. Those fishing alongside Shakespeare gawked at his homespun reel and asked to use it.