Sounds good on paper. However, not so sure it is feasible endeavor. It has been tried before. Oregon Territorial Council on Fur, Inc. (OTC) in 1973. Another group in Colorado in the 1980s (can’t remeber the person name).
Most trappers are too independent people to take part in such a plan.
Sounds good on paper. However, not so sure it is feasible endeavor. It has been tried before. Oregon Territorial Council on Fur, Inc. (OTC) in 1973. Another group in Colorado in the 1980s (can’t remeber the person name).
Most trappers are too independent people to take part in such a plan.
I wish them good luck.
Rocky Mtn Fur Exchange? I think I still have a catalog from one of their sales in Denver that I dropped in on, maybe some photos too.
I see a need and opportunity. Be nice to have some experienced personnel on board. Not sure that focusing on a Groeny monopoly is the proper route. And you don’t want to compete with FHA? If I were starting an auction I would want every trapper I could get on board. Doable with a budget.
I am not sure what part Dale would play. I am not aware of any auction experience he has. I might look into it. He said something about this on facebook the other day during a conversation about the failure of NAFA and the failures of the Canadian government to let anyone into the country. LLL
dont care how many outlets there is for fur if there isnt a want for it more than can be supplied it isnt going to change as long as they get all they want its going to be cheap keep trapping and selling cheap its worked several years now and they like cheap fur
The unwant was created by gross oversupply. The ranch industry produced several fold over reasonable levels. It will be interesting to see if things change as the pipeline is flushed out.
More outlets for selling is good for harvesters no doubt !!
Maintaining control of harvest for top dollars has always been a conglomerates down fall, due to the harvesters thinking they can do better by just keep on hauling in fur.
If there is a demand for fur, which is way low and has been for a long time, prices stay up, ranch fur controls most of that, control demand you can control the price of fur. Ranch fur has taken a serious hit lately with the covid, could make some short term investors glitzy with ambition in my view.
Harvesters need to get together and control what's being sent to sell, instead of just sending in everything cause they wish a return of something. Do this and you might cause some stability in need for fur.
However most need to realize that regular use of fur is seriously limited to certain areas and cost's for this type will never be high as most who use it cannot afford that cost, cheap fur goes here, but not like it used to, due to petroleum products substituting better insulating products for cheaper cost which last longer.
Maybe when the world goes totally green again fur will comeback in vogue and real need, with out oil there are no synthetics to take it's place !
There are some logistic concerns that are not anything related to trapping or trappers being too independent. If there is a good market outlet independent trappers will find it and use it. The logistics of locating the proper place for buyers to attend and stay, means hotels, activities, airports etc. Also getting commitments from foreign buyers to attend and make additional trips to and from the US needs to be dealt with and or coordinating with other auctions to minimize travel expenses. Also providing free pickup sounds great but collecting fur from a country our size and getting it to a central location with storage is not a low cost operation and some one will cover those costs and fees. Working on or with lower commissions sounds very good for sellers and buyers but there really needs to be a critical mass of revenue to keep doors open and the site running. The fur going to this possible new site will not be any better or more valuable then fur going to FHA, GFW, a local buyer or association auction so finding ways to attract the fur and manage the enterprise and have higher returns for sellers will take some very, very high level business management, which will not be low cost in this modern area. Bryce
There are some logistic concerns that are not anything related to trapping or trappers being too independent. If there is a good market outlet independent trappers will find it and use it. The logistics of locating the proper place for buyers to attend and stay, means hotels, activities, airports etc. Also getting commitments from foreign buyers to attend and make additional trips to and from the US needs to be dealt with and or coordinating with other auctions to minimize travel expenses. Also providing free pickup sounds great but collecting fur from a country our size and getting it to a central location with storage is not a low cost operation and some one will cover those costs and fees. Working on or with lower commissions sounds very good for sellers and buyers but there really needs to be a critical mass of revenue to keep doors open and the site running. The fur going to this possible new site will not be any better or more valuable then fur going to FHA, GFW, a local buyer or association auction so finding ways to attract the fur and manage the enterprise and have higher returns for sellers will take some very, very high level business management, which will not be low cost in this modern area. Bryce
Your not wrong, I've been talking to Dale about this for a brief period of time, definitely well aware of the many obstacles ans struggles there will be. He's simply trying to give ideas, and gain some interest. I know he as well as many including myself, would love to see another place to sell fur. It seems like there is only a fraction of the buyers there once was, with FHA locked down for who knows how long, it would be nice to see where the markets actually are with active bidding to show level of demand. With only one larger buyer around, a monopoly is almost here whether we like it or not, which is not good for any of us.
Sounds good on paper. However, not so sure it is feasible endeavor. It has been tried before. Oregon Territorial Council on Fur, Inc. (OTC) in 1973. Another group in Colorado in the 1980s (can’t remeber the person name).
Most trappers are too independent people to take part in such a plan.
I wish them good luck.
Nancy, I'll jog your memory with this. The Rocky Mountain Fur Exchange was started by Leon Vanek and Craig Swick, this auction was the one based in Denver Co. in the 1980's.
NAFA ran a monopoly for decades and no one blinked or cared.
I don't know who is behind all this new venture BUT if a few i know are involved in it id not bet against it.
Logic tells me it won't work for a multitude of reason's with the biggest being, THERE'S NO DEMAND FOR FUR!
Have to have a product that someone wants in order to sell it. That may all change in the next few years and if so if this is in place ahead of time it could reap the rewards for a market on it's way back up.
As has been the case in our whole history though dealing with fur is a gamble and always will be.
Remember back when trappers accused NAFA agents of switching pelts? The first trapper that sends In all of his Top of the line prime coon hides and they all of a sudden become Sec 3 heads will roll.
Remember back when trappers accused NAFA agents of switching pelts? The first trapper that sends In all of his Top of the line prime coon hides and they all of a sudden become Sec 3 heads will roll.
It is still happening. Most trappers can tell a top lot from something that should have made the ditch rather than skin, but not all trappers can. Some of the stuff I have seen is beyond belief. For some reason the most only catch good fur, at least in their eyes. It has to be someone else's fault.