By TIM MEKEEL, StaffFly fisherman try to cast a fishing line onto the water with the smallest of ripples. But an English maker of premium fly-fishing equipment and other fishing gear hopes to make a big splash here. Hardy & Greys Ltd. is set to open in mid-October a facility in the Stony Battery Corporate Center that will serve its North and South American markets. "This will instantly make Lancaster a significant fly-fishing venue," said Hardy & Greys' Jim Murphy on Monday. Murphy has been hired as president of Hardy & Greys' new wholly owned subsidiary, Hardy North America, which will be based in the Corporate Boulevard space.
Hardy & Greys is investing more than $1 million to open the 14,000-square-foot facility. It will start with eight to 12 employees, with "significant potential for growth" as the business expands, he said. The facility will have a distribution center stocked with more than 1,000 Hardy, Greys and Chub brand products, ranging from rods and reels to accessories and clothing used in fly fishing and other types of fishing. These products are sold in specialty shops and outdoors chain stores. There also will be offices for sales, marketing, finance and product development. With the opening of this facility, Hardy & Greys will no longer use a New York firm, Cortland Line Co., as its North American distributor, ending a seven-year relationship. But the West Hempfield Township facility will do more than support Hardy & Greys' stronger push into the Americas. It also will become a "little mecca" for fly fishermen, predicted Murphy. It will have a museum/showroom displaying old and new products, meeting space for area fishing groups and a 100-foot regulation casting pond for casting competitions. Dave Nikoloff, president of the Economic Development Co., which recruited the 136-year-old firm to come here, was delighted it chose Lancaster County for its North American headquarters. "It's not that this is a huge facility employing large numbers of people. But it brings a leading name in that industry to North America for the first time. They will only enhance their operation here over time," he said. Nikoloff said Hardy & Greys is known in the fishing-gear industry for its high-end, high-performance products. "They are the BMW of fishing equipment," he explained. Hardy & Greys was alerted to Lancaster as a possible location by the Governor's Action Team, said Nikoloff. Lancaster was selected over Reading, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Richmond. Murphy, the founder of Albright Tackle Co. and Redington Tackle Co., said Hardy & Greys is coming here for numerous reasons. Lancaster is in a state with fabulous fly fishing, he noted. The community is a vibrant place with a rich heritage. In addition, Lancaster is close to major cities and the Baltimore airport, which has a convenient schedule of flights to London. Murphy also cited the warm welcome he got from the EDC.
Staff writer Tim Mekeel can be reached at tmekeel@LNPnews.com or 481-6030.
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/15'
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