Finding the key partners to work with can make or break your venture. After thousands of conversations with aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s one of the most common obstacles and risks holding folks back from pursuing their idea. So – we asked some of the smartest, most resourceful entrepreneurs in the community to share their lessons and insights to help inspire and educate the next great set of entrepreneurs.

Devan Gregori

I was very fortunate to have a mentor that set me up with the right contacts from the very beginning. I met Yoshi Kondo back in design school, when I interned for him in Paris. When I was ready to start my own line, he offered to connect me with his contacts. I actually went on a trip with him to Dalian, China, where I helped him work on new styles while I learned how the production process worked. I had the rare opportunity to meet and make lasting contacts with people there, and ask all the hard questions in a safe and open space. Read more>>

Dylan Demery

We have some amazing suppliers and we found them through Fly Fishing Retailer Expo event that was put on in Denver during the fall of 2019. We are an online fly shop that provides gear and services for women. When we went to that expo, we were looking for women’s gear. We met many amazing women who are creating the products we want to carry and discussed what was possible. Since we prefer to dropship because we don’t have a brick and mortar, it limited who would actually work with us. Yet the suppliers who have decided to take a chance on us are very supportive. Women business owners in the Fly Fishing industry are pretty rare and the group tends to support and uplift each other. When seeking suppliers for a retail business, my best advice is to really hone in on your demographic and what they want. We’ve been refining that since we opened the business and are changing with our customers’ needs and expectations. Read more>>

Shirley Kienitz

One of the things that makes Wolfbait & B-girls unique, is that all of our vendors are locals. Nearly 2 decades ago when our business began, we would meet fellow makers through ads in the back of free papers like “New City” and “The Reader”. We would gather together and show our current work, talk about what retailers were willing to take a shot on us up and comers, or join forces and host little pop ups where ever we could. In those days before the connections were made online, we created community in real life. That focus remains today in our shop, a venue we created to showcase our vibrant city’s artisans. A shared space and an incubator, with word of mouth drawing talented friends and neighbors to come play a part. The care and support we offer our fellow makers is what solidifies our relationships in this business that benefits every participant. With no gate keeping we can welcome more makers into the fold to benefit the group and our customers, inclusivity over exclusivity always. Circles instead of hierarchies. It’s this way of thinking that has brought the best to The Bait. Read more>>