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the shop I used to work at really tried to make a go with whitewater back during the late 90's/early 00's but that was during the heady times of multiple boat releases in a season and manufacturers tightly controlling pricing unless you were a large well known outfit like NOC. After getting sold hard at O.R. for the new line up, then getting burned by the manufacturer when they released another model later in the season unbeknownst to the shop back during the OR order time & getting stuck w/ early season pigs, the buyer & owner began to become gun shy on loading up on a bunch of whitewater boats. T
With a thin whitewater boat line up, customers began having problems finding what they wanted at the shop, which led to fewer sales and more tentativeness on the owner's part to load up on boats for the coming season with an already thin margin on boats. Eventually this led to a smaller line up of whitewater accessories as people quit thinking of them as a source of whitewater stuff - kinda a cyclical thing. These days they stick to bread and butter flatwater canoes, rec boats, light touring kayaks & the basic accessories those buyers are into like paddle leashes and fishing rod holders.
Kinda sad to see the shift away from whitewater but at least they still do well in selling most other outdoor toys.
Mark |
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and w/ a name like River Sports...seems smaller shops are getting sqoozed out New 
BoaterTalk 
