Orvis is an American, family-owned retail and mail-order business, founded in 1856 in Manchester,…read moreVermont, by Charles F. Orvis. It is the oldest mail-order retailer in the United States and a leader in fly fishing, hunting, and sporting goods. In the beginning Charles Orvis opened his shop to cater to wealthy tourists, quickly establishing a reputation for quality fly-fishing tackle, pioneering mail-order catalog sales. The company struggled and financially collapsed during the Great Depression.
In 1939 businessman Dudley "Duckie" Corkran purchased the failing company for $4,500 and revitalized it. Under Corkran, Orvis expanded its product line to include clothing and opened its first retail store in 1941.
In 1965, Leigh Perkins purchased Orvis and transformed it into a lifestyle brand. He diversified the product range to include hunting gear, apparel, and dog accessories, and pioneered customer acquisition techniques by exchanging mailing lists with other retailers. He also established the first U.S. fly-fishing school in 1966 and introduced sporting clays to America.
Leigh Perkins passed leadership to his sons, Perk and Dave Perkins, and later to his grandson, Simon Perkins, in 2020, ensuring the company remained family-owned. The company has expanded into e-commerce and has launched innovative Rodeo technologies like the Helios, and continues its commitment to environmental stewardship through the Orvis-Endorsed programs and conservation initiatives.
Today, Orvis is an international, multi-channel retailer with its corporate headquarters in Manchester, Vermont, and major operations in Roanoke, Virginia, and the United Kingdom.
When I moved to Roanoke, the first gift that I received from a friend was an Orvis Weather Breaker Jacket. And though I still have it today, it is worn down and I thought it was about time I got a new one, because its one of my favorites and practical things to wear. So I headed to the Orvis store located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, on Campbell Ave.
Once there, a young gentleman greeted me and listened to what I was looking for. Then he showed me around and pointed out the jacket I was looking for, as well as several new items that would serve my need as well. He did a great job in following one of the company's core values that states: "Surprise & Delight Your Customer." He listened and built a relationship by being curious, personal, friendly & fun. He also earned credibility and trust by being open, honest & down to earth. And you could tell, he took pride in their products. When I asked him if they were having any Black Friday Sales this year, he told me he didn't know yet but that I could find some sales going on now in the company's website. When I asked him about a Bison Wallet they used to have, he showed what they had and was surprised they didn't have it on display but thought it might be coming in shortly and also suggested I look for it on their website.
As we walked around the store, I was very impressed by its cleanliness, interior design, product display, and nice lighting treatment. All items were display to show their best. I also enjoyed viewing their fly-fishing equipment. After all, I have enjoyed fishing all my life and Saltwater Sport Fishing was my one of my favorite hobbies as I was growing up and being the youngest person to win the prestigious Yearly Cangrejos Yacht Club Fishing Tournament in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico by catching and landing a 403 lb Blue Martin after three and a half hours of struggling with him. In another occasion I also caught a 97 lb Bull Dolphin or Mahi-Mahi, also called Dorado, when I was even younger.
I thanked the Orvis associate for his assistance and help, and promised to return on Black Friday to see what's going on there. I remember one year they had a roulette or something similar that gave you a discount of different amounts, depending what you picked. One at home I went to their website, found the sale the sales-associate was referring to and purchased the jacket I wanted to replace my worn down one. I highly recommend you visit this store if you're a local or a tourist. In it you will find nice, quality merchandise, and exceptional customer service, creating moments that exceed our expectations.