BPS & Cabela's

[Mike S.]

I just read on the Skeeter Boats Facebook page that BPS bought Cabela's. Has anyone heard about this?  It will supposedly be official today or tomorrow.

[dartag]

Found this online.  Going to be interesting to see what happens.  BPS is privately held so he can do what he wants. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/05/us-cabelas-m-a-basspro-idUSKCN0SU2JY20151105#DmR4gOvrQJbsFxyJ.97

[djkimmel]

I heard Johnny Morris was exploring buying Cabelas but not that he had actually gone and done it as the article posted by dartag mentions. Since they try to keep these things private it could be more advanced than we know though we all know how hard it is to actually keep something secret...? Seems like the rumor mills would be humming on more cylinders if the purchase was imminent? It normally takes quite awhile for these things to happen, doesn't it?

[Manxfishing]

It will be interesting of what happens
10-12 years ago, BPS and Mountain Gander were going to team up
But that never happened

Haven't been to either store in a while
But I would like to see both still in buss.

[Waterfoul]

I honestly don't like the idea.  Competition keeps pricing in check, and this would put BPS so far on top of the heap they would have virtually no major retail competitor.

BPS is about a $4 Billion a year business, Cabelas about $1.4 Billion.  That's a lot of crankbaits, tents, and guns!!!!

[TCook]

Both stores are over priced and don't compare to most of the online tackle suppliers. Regardless of what happens it won't make a difference to those of us that use common sense on where and when to buy our tackle.

[Manxfishing]

Both stores are over priced and don't compare to most of the online tackle suppliers. Regardless of what happens it won't make a difference to those of us that use common sense on where and when to buy our tackle.

Your right in one way
Most of us don't buy to much from the 2 stores.
But think of it this way. It's almost following the Wallmart buss. plan
The buying power and dist. would be huge! BPS could cut the prices on allot till they drove the other stores out of business.
They now own 60% of the bass boat sales and owning the 2 big box stores
I'm sure they would demand the best prices from those selling to them
If your buying 2 mil lures, rods & reels, trolling motors etc. you get allot better pricing then those buying 100 or so at a time.
It wouldn't affect the higher end stuff. But it would affect all of us in that allot of other stores would get out of selling fishing and hunting items.

[dartag]

It's just more consolidation in the sporting business.   Been going on forever in other industries.    JM had built quite an empire besides retail sales.  His stores have become travel destinations.  Look at the new pyramid they opened in Memphis.  It was a building that has not really been used since 2004.  He bought Ranger from a private equity company that bought a bunch of boat companies during the financial crisis.   He had done it all keeping it a Private company so he can do what he wants without a board of directors ruling him.   He is the true meaning of The American Dream.   If his company would ever go public.  I would be at the front of the line to invest in it.