Why does Fishing Apparel Matter in 2025?

I've been fishing ever since I can remember. Those weekend trips with grandpa were always the highlights of my childhood. Hanging out with the guys of my family, telling jokes, playing war with Erik and my cousin, hiking, and most importantly, fishing. I would pay endless amounts of money to be able to go back and relive those days. Today, life is full of 9 to 5 jobs, bills, and other obligations. All things that keep me off of the water.

You might be wondering, how does this have anything to do with why fishing apparel is important? Well, I'm glad you're wondering that, because I'm going to tell you. I believe I was put o. this Earth to be a business owner. There has never been a job that seemed to "fit". There is always something in any job I wished I could change or something I wish was different. That's one of the reasons why I want to own my own business. I want to build the dream business, run things the way they should be run. I want to build a place where people enjoy coming into work and a place where they fell like they belong. Any business should put their customers first, then their employees, and third comes the profit. There are a great many businesses today who have that order confused and the only care is what puts money in the shareholders pocket. 

Another reason why I ventured into this world of entrepreneurship is to make my mark on the fishing industry. When I was in grade school, I wanted to be a professional bass fisherman. As I got older, that dream changed, and I want to make my mark in a different way. The impact I can make through a business will be much greater than if I was a pro bass angler. Bass fishing has meant so much to Erik and I. We have learn a great deal of lessons through it as well. It is our duty to share those lessons with other people, and this business will be our medium to do just that.

The third reason why we want to do this is because the business side of fishing needs a good reset. It seems like everyday, we hear about small tackle shops and other small brands being swallowed up by big brands. The fishing industry needs these small brands where employees care about their customers. One of my favorite parts of going anywhere to go fishing was to go to new tackle stores and see what the culture was like in that area. I loved hearing all the stories people would tell about their fishing adventures. We get less and less of that as time goes on. We want to support these small brands through wholesale and keep that feeling alive.

With all that being said, we need your help to do all this. We need your support whether it's buying a hat, or commenting on an Instagram post. Any little bit helps. Inch by inch, we will make this dream a reality. The fishing industry will be a place once we are all said and done. This is just the beginning.

Thank you,

Paul Hoffman, Cofounder of HOFO