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| Ian and the Hardy & Grey's Point of View |
 Highly respected and well regarded Spey caster Ian Gordon has joined Hardy and Greys as a consultant.
Ian’s expertise in salmon fishing will further strengthen the Northumberland Company’s fly-fishing team and he will be representing Hardy and Greys at shows around the world in 2008.Ian hails from the river Spey in Scotland, having fished since the age of eight and worked as a Ghillie on the Knockando beat (Spey) for 19 years. He is a qualified STANIC salmon instructor, specialising in the Spey cast, along with teaching basic casting with a double handed rod. His interest in casting mechanics led him to rod and line design and Hardy and Greys are keen for him to assist with their product research and development too. He focuses on double handed rods, reels and lines for salmon and sea trout markets. Ian has taken up the challenge of working with the designers at Hardy and Greys. ‘As one of the most famous and well established names in fly-fishing, Hardy and Greys is a company with traditional values, as well as a modern forward-thinking approach to business in the 21st century,’ he added. ‘My knowledge of what the customer requires is based on a lifetime’s work at the sharp end of the market and this, combined with the experience of a team dedicated to producing the best products in fly-fishing will, I am sure, be of a great value to the future success of the company.’ John Wolstenholme, Marketing Manager (Game) for Hardy and Greys, said: ‘We are delighted to have Ian joining our team. His experience and knowledge will be a huge asset to us.’ “Innovation is one of the key factors in staying ahead of the game, and competition. Having cut my teeth with Partridge I am now very keen to utilise my knowledge, working closely with the experienced product development team to create most diverse range of rods, reels and lines for Hardy/Greys”. |
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Look out for this New Product during 2009. |
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Since 1872, Hardy has been designing and developing some of the world’s finest fishing tackle at its headquarters in
Alnwick, England. The company is justifiably proud of the tradition and knowledge we have gained over the years in producing high quality fishing equipment. In 2008, we have more investment going into technology, people and processes than ever before in the history of the company. Our aim is to ensure that we continue to provide anglers around the world with products which add value in terms of performance and durability and which they are proud to own. Products that simply make the whole process of going fishing more enjoyable. This passion for creating great fishing tackle is the mainstay of our business and we are constantly searching for ways to improve the process. From concept to launch we strive to ensure that each product entering the market and bearing any one of our brand names lives up to the reputation this company has taken so long to develop. When the design, prototyping and testing of each product is complete and we are confident we have everything right at head office, we work with manufacturing partners around the globe who, in our opinion, are able to replicate the level of expertise and craftsmanship we expect. Of course, we continue to maintain a manufacturing facility in Alnwick and going forward, our product range will include both overseas and UK manufactured items. Since the late nineteenth century, Hardy has been sourcing materials from around the globe to manufacture its products – the finest Tonkin bamboo for cane rods came from China way back then and still does! The best quality cork is generally agreed to be Portuguese, Japanese carbon fibre cloth and Fuji rings are both arguably the best in the world. It is in this tradition that Hardy continues to foster global alliances with the world’s best suppliers and manufacturers. This strategy is a necessary part of Hardy remaining at the forefront of fishing tackle development both now and in the future. |
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Hardy Re-invented |
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“What’s changed?” you may ask. “Why should a company like Hardy, with such a highly regarded reputation, need to re-invent itself?”
The answer is simple. It's product. In today’s fiercely competitive market fishermen vote with their wallets. If our tackle does not meet their requirements, for quality, performance or value for money, we might as well call it a day now and save ourselves a lot of pain.
For Hardy to succeed going forward we had to change, and change required a significant realignment of our product offering. Over the past three years, I am proud to say we have done just that.
Now, don’t get me wrong, that’s not to say we can sit back and just go fishing!
Far from it, we must continue to live, breathe and constantly push the boundaries of what you, the fishermen, demand from your tackle. Whether this be rods, reels, clothing, luggage, lines, leaders or even a priest! The product is king. That's how you judge the reputation of any brand, and Hardy has great product and a reputation which is second to none. To achieve this we have assembled behind the Hardy brand one of the finest teams of specialist fishermen available to any tackle manufacturer. That's what makes Hardy so special. A team who are really passionate about what we do, developing tackle at the cutting edge of technology but still offering the real quality you have come to expect from Hardy. Remember, Hardy rods and reels are designed and developed by time served craftsmen, and are covered by the Hardy Lifetime Guarantee. So, what you will see in the new Hardy product range is the culmination of all our hard work. But don’t just take our word for it. Put us to the test. Hardy is not just all about product development. We have been actively involved in a number of major initiatives in our sport. Firstly, 2005 saw the inauguration of the Hardy Greys Academy. This is a select group of hand-picked fly fishing instructors. All are well-trained, highly motivated, approachable and, above all, qualified and certified in the sport of fly fishing. The Academy also incorporates some of the best fishing guides who are not only fantastic ambassadors for our sport but some of the best individuals to help in the assessment and testing of our new products. Particularly when we are looking to ensure all our prototypes are tested in the most rigorous conditions. Our team has also been working hard to reinforce our commitment to key angling associations. My sincere thanks to the Salmon and Trout Association, along with the Wild Trout Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association for their dedication and passion in protecting our sport. As we all know, without the appropriate habitat and waters we will have nothing for the future. That’s why we are fishermen, that’s why we are at Hardy. Invest in Hardy. Invest in your soul. Tight lines! Richard Sanderson, Managing Director. Designed & Developed in Alnwick, England |
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