How to Get a Job in the Fishing Industry with Robby Gant of Shimano and Larry Colombo, Outdoor Writer
Robby Gant’s Next Move to Become a Part of the Fishing Industry
 Editor’s Note: Many outdoorsmen hope to some day work in the fishing industry. Robby Gant explains how he’s become an integral part of the fishing industry without going the route of fishing professionally.
After Robby Gant’s 1-1/2-years in the rep business, a rep group  offered 22-year-old Gant his own territory, where he represented Shimano, Lowrance Electronics, Owner American Cooperation, Acme Tackle and Power Pro – companies whose tackle he’d used in tournaments for years. “I was a rep for 6 years in various counties,” Gant reports. “I met Dave Pfeiffer again, the vice president of Shimano’s Fishing Division. I was the bass expert for our rep group because I’d spent so much time tournament fishing. Because of my knowledge of Shimano products, Dave asked me when I was 27 to accompany him on a trip to China to help build the Crucial rod line for Shimano.” Shimano also asked Gant to identify the developing trends in bass fishing as well as what lures sold the best and the rod components needed to help bass fishermen fish better.
When Gant Started Working Exclusively with Shimano:
“I took many rods to China with me and showed the rod builders the features in each rod I liked,” Gant says. The Chinese rod builders could make a rod for me to test in only an hour or two. What an  experience I had! I stayed in China for about 10 days. On the way home, I told Dave what a great time I’d had and asked him for a job building rods and working for Shimano.” Three weeks later, Shimano offered the position of product manager for fishing rods to Gant, which meant he’d help create and build every fishing rod Shimano made for the U.S. market, after researching what types of rods fishermen needed.
“I couldn’t believe I woke-up each morning and went Shimano for 1-1/2-years to work and build fishing rods for the company,” Gant says. “This time was just before the drop-shot technique took off, and the swim-bait phenomenon hit. We were the first company to come out with a line of swim-bait rods and a line of drop-shot rods and to design rods for fishing particular lures. When Dave Pfeiffer was promoted to president, and I asked him who’d get his position, he replied with a question, ‘Do you want the job?’ I said, ‘You bet I do!’ I was given the title, Senior Brand Manager, responsible for rods, reels, lures and accessories and overseeing the marketing and the customer-service departments. Then after 2 years in July, 2008, I was given the title, Senior Sales Manager.”
Tomorrow: Why Work As a Manufacturer’s Rep |
