Ron Bordwine

A Holiday Treat from Stick Jacket

December 20, 2024 by Ron Bordwine

Meet AJ, our Customer Service and Pro Staff Manager here at Stick Jacket Fishing Rod Covers. For weeks, AJ has been telling me about his mom Mary’s incredible Christmas Village, and I was curious to see it. Well, I finally got the chance – and wow, it’s even more impressive than I imagined!

Mary put together this amazing video showcasing her festive creation, and it’s truly something special. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy her hard work and creativity. If you’re as impressed as we are, don’t forget to give her a big thumbs up!

From all of us at Stick Jacket, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dive into the Excitement of the Pitman Creek Wholesale Dealer Show!

October 17, 2024 by Ron Bordwine

Hey, fishing enthusiasts! 🎣

We’re thrilled to share our experience from the recent Pitman Creek Wholesale Dealer Show, held on October 13th and 14th, 2024, at the Sevierville Convention Center in Tennessee. This event brought together tackle suppliers and retailers from across America, creating an unparalleled opportunity for networking, learning, and discovering the latest in fishing gear!

Inside the Pitman Creek Wholesale Dealer Show: Fishing Trends & Insights with Matthew Mattingly

Insights from Matthew Mattingly

In a special segment, our very own Simon Alhafel had the chance to sit down with Matthew Mattingly, the Director of Key Accounts at Pitman Creek. Matthew shared his insights into what retailers can expect at the show, including an exclusive look at brand new products and innovations in fishing tackle.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Matthew’s advice on entering the outdoor business is invaluable. He also delved into the impact of social media on the fishing industry, discussing how it’s shaping the way we connect and share our love for fishing.

What to Expect at the Show

The Dealer Show was buzzing with excitement, featuring:

Networking Opportunities: Connect with manufacturers, sales reps, and fellow store owners.
Product Showcases: Get up close with the latest fishing gear, including new Stick Jacket models and innovative lures.
Exclusive Discounts: Take advantage of great deals to gear up for the spring fishing season.
Post-Show Activities: Enjoy a fishing tournament, golf, and a tailgate party to wrap up the event!

This gathering felt like a family reunion, bringing together elite fishing pros like John Crews, Wesley Strader, and Mark Menendez—truly a testament to the strong community we’ve built over the years.

Join the Adventure!

If you missed this year’s show, don’t worry! Stay tuned for more updates, tips, and insights from the world of fishing right here at Stick Jacket. We’re committed to sharing our passion for the outdoors and helping you connect with others who share your enthusiasm.

Let’s keep the conversation going! What topics would you like to see us cover next? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Tight lines!

Stick Jacket Launches PRO Ambassador Program: Meet Our Team

August 7, 2024 by Ron Bordwine

For the past 20 years, Stick Jacket has been dedicated to “taming the tangle” for anglers worldwide, expanding our reach into countless cities and countries each year. Today, we’re excited to take a bold step into the digital realm with the launch of our PRO ambassador program! We’re proud to introduce our inaugural trio of ambassadors, who will help us grow our online presence across various media channels, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more.

Meet Our PRO Staff Members

Suburban Angling

We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Nick for quite some time. A passionate kayak angler based in Illinois, he frequently features Stick Jackets in his videos, including the most comprehensive review of our fishing rod covers to date. I recently joined Nick on one of his signature creek trips, and it was an awesome experience! Be sure to check out the upcoming video on his channel for a glimpse of our adventure.

Chase Nicely

Our next PRO staff member is Chase Nicely, the manager of one of our longest-standing partners, Dance’s Sporting Goods in Colonial Heights, Virginia. An avid tournament fisherman, Chase competes in 3-4 local tournaments each week, consistently landing impressive catches. Beyond his fishing prowess, Chase also combines his passion for angling and electronics in his side business, where he installs fishing electronics for fellow anglers in his community.

Simon Says Fishing

Last but certainly not least, we welcome Simon, the owner of one of the fastest-growing fishing YouTube channels, Simon Says Fishing, based in Royse City, TX. Simon is already hard at work showcasing our products in his upcoming videos, shorts, and live streams. What stands out about Simon is his incredible bond with his dog, who makes frequent appearances in his content. He’s also eager to help promote Stick Jacket to new dealers across Texas and is excited to represent us as he enters the tournament scene, proudly wearing our logo on his jersey as his first official sponsor.

Get Ready for Exclusive Discounts!

These three dedicated ambassadors are excited to showcase Stick Jacket products, and soon, you’ll be able to find affiliate discount codes on their channels. This is a great opportunity for you to save while supporting their hard work!

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow our community and bring the best fishing gear to anglers everywhere!

Help Wanted – Wholesale Fishing Tackle

January 2, 2024 by Ron Bordwine

Wholesale Fishing Tackle Representative: If you love fishing and enjoy talking with Fishing Tackle Dealers, this job is for you. We are looking for representatives that will develop and maintain a good relationship with our network of Fishing Tackle retail dealers. A customer service representative, or CSR, will act as a liaison, provide product/services information and be responsible for addressing dealer needs and ensuring they have a good experience. Apply Here

The best CSRs are genuinely excited to help customers. They’re patient, empathetic, and passionately communicative. They love to talk. Customer service representatives can put themselves in their customers’ shoes and advocate for them when necessary. Customer feedback is priceless. Problem-solving comes naturally to customer care specialists. They are confident at troubleshooting and investigate if they don’t have enough information to resolve customer concerns. The target is to ensure excellent service standards, respond efficiently to customer inquiries and maintain high customer satisfaction.

Job applicants that enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, boating or camping will be able to better relate to our sporting goods dealers and meet their needs.

Responsibilities

Call our Sporting Goods Dealers daily.
Process orders for our fishing accessories
Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction
Build sustainable relationships and trust with customer accounts through open and interactive communication
Provide accurate, valid and complete information by using the email, fax, telephone and social media.
Meet personal/customer service team sales targets and call handling quotas
Keep records of customer interactions, process customer accounts and file documents using Microsoft Excel, Quickbooks and email.
Follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies
Take the extra mile to engage customers

Opportunities exist to participate in trade-shows & help develop social media content. Apply Here

Skills

Enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, boating and camping.
Social media creator and enthusiast including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram is a plus.
Strong phone contact handling skills and active listening
Excellent communication and presentation skills using telephone, fax, email and social media.
Customer orientation and ability to adapt/respond to different types of characters
Familiarity with using a Windows PC, Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Word is helpful.
Proven customer support experience or experience as a client service representative
High school degree

Training will be provided. Knowledge of fishing is a plus. Experience using a Windows PC, Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and QuickBooks is preferred.

Must Have Reliable Transportation.

Interested Applicants Apply Here

Louie

September 29, 2023 by Ron Bordwine

My name is Ron, and Louie was my beagle.

Constant companion and best buddy, Louie came to work with me every day.

Louie never missed a meal, often sitting at the dinner table with us. And with all the kids around, Louie was supplied a steady source of french-fries.

Louie travelled with me everywhere and if I had to guess, he spent 150,000 miles wearing out the passenger seat of our three F150’s.

On September 17, 2023 we celebrated Louie’s 15^th birthday. Many of his friends gathered here at Stick Jacket. Including his best four legged friends: Axel, Hulk, Peanut and Mighty Mouse, his cat. There was lots of cake and massive quantities of food.

10:22 AM, September 27, 2023 – Louie left us. The heart ache is deep and there is an emptiness here at Stick Jacket and at home that I cannot describe.

I’m not exactly sure why I am sharing this with you all. Some might say this post doesn’t belong on this page. Just the same, Louie was very much a part of Stick Jacket. And to everyone reading this, thank you.

If you have just a little more time, I would like to offer you a chance to get to know Louie a little bit better with this 18 minute YouTube featuring some good music, photos and video clips.