FORT SMITH, Ark. – PRADCO Fishing has launched the first custom lure shop in a major retail store with the opening of the Bass Pro Shops in Western Arkansas.
Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris asked that PRADCO do something special in the Fort Smith store, since PRADCO has called Fort Smith home since 1962. George Perrin founded Rebel Lure Company, the flagship brand of Plastics Research and Development Company (PRADCO).
The team at PRADCO, led by VP of Brand Management Chad Warner, developed the idea to use a digital printer to customize lure blanks from famous brands in the store. PRADCO will fully staff the store with a full-time employee during all business hours. The lure choices include famous shapes such as the Heddon Super Spook and Original Zara Spook, Rebel Pop-R, Cotton Cordell Super Spot and Big O, BOOYAH Hard Knocker and One Knocker, Bandit 100, Bomber Flat A.
Any consumer can come into the Custom Lure Shop at the Fort Smith Bass Pro Shops and purchase one of these lures at normal price and pay a $3 upcharge to have a personal message, a signature, a name or anything else printed on both sides of each lure. The consumer can choose from a menu of fonts and colors before seeing their lure printed in the store.
"This is definitely an elevated experience for the Bass Pro Shops consumer," said Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of PRADCO Fishing. "When Johnny asked us to partner with Bass Pro Shops in this store, we jumped at the opportunity to give a special opportunity to store-goers."
PRADCO Fishing also has a 400-square-foot store-within-a-store that features all of PRADCO famous brands and lures and also a timeline of its acquisitions over the years.
"There are things that you can only see in this Bass Pro Shops that you can't see anywhere else," Stanton said. "This is a big reason for consumers to make a visit to this store."
Fort Smith businessman Bennie Westphal, who brokered the real estate deal to bring Bass Pro Shops to Fort Smith, purchased the first custom lure during "Friends and Family Night" on Monday, April 27. The former Arkansas Razorback football player said he can't wait to cast his custom Super Spook with his name on it!
About Pradco Fishing
PRADCO Fishing is owned by EBSCO Industries of Birmingham, Ala., and is a part of PRADCO Outdoor Brands. Its famous fishing brands include: Arbogast, Bandit, Bobby Garland, Bomber, BOOYAH, Cotton Cordell, Creek Chub, Great Lakes Finesse, Heddon, Lindy, Little Joe, Norman, Rebel, Smithwick, Thill, War Eagle, Whisker Seeker Tackle and YUM. POB's hunting brands include Ani-Logics Outdoors, Code Blue, MAXXTUFF, Moultrie, Summit, Texas Hunter, Whitetail Institute and Wingscapes.