Orvis plans to cut an additional 4-percent [50 people) of its workforce by the end of 2025, following a previous cut of 8-percent in 2024. They also plan to close 36 locations by early 2026, displacing hundreds more. Photo of Orvis, Avalon, Alpharetta, Georgia, taken by Thomson200
Breaking free
Phil Monahan, currently Editor-in-Chief of MidCurrent, has a long history of guiding and fly fishing and has written about those matters for decades. He is recognized for his profound commitment to wild fisheries and the ecosystems they rely on, supporting conservation initiatives and mentoring the next generation of anglers. He regularly highlights the importance of preserving waters such as Vermont’s Battenkill and Alaska’s Bristol Bay, emphasizing both technical expertise and community stewardship. He is a man worth listening to.
By Phil Monahan and abridged by Henry Clement
Why the change-up pitch
No one wants to talk about reality on a fly fishing site
Fly fishing and wingshooting have been central to the company since 1856. In recent years, Orvis faced criticism for selling lifestyle products. Items like women’s fashion and a $1,000 leather cooler stray from the outdoor focus. Perkins states that these offerings will diminish as the brand returns to its core outdoor products. The company will continue to support newcomers and assist fly fishers and wingshooting enthusiasts. For more details, check out the full Orvis story at MidCurrent.
Orvis president Simon Perkins (left) with his late grandfather, Leigh Perkins, who bought the company in 1965. Simon took over the company in 2020, and Leigh passed away in 2021. Photo: Brian Grossenbacher, courtesy of Orvis.
Simon Perkins is the President of Orvis, a top U.S. retailer specializing in fly fishing, wingshooting, outdoor gear, travel goods, and sportswear. He is the third generation of the Perkins family to lead the company, taking over in 2020.
Before joining Orvis, Simon spent over a decade as a fly fishing and upland hunting guide in Montana, where he formed a strong connection to outdoor recreation and conservation
Wingshooting tools at their finest. Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company, also known as Galazan’s, was founded in 1975 by current company president Antony Galazan. As a young man, Galazan was visited by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms due to the high volume of firearm parts he was producing. They suggested he apply for a license to produce these parts on an industrial scale; this marked the official beginning of the company. At the time, the company was primarily focused on used shotguns as well as producing barrel gauges and screws, items which are still manufactured by the company today. Connecticut Shotgun Revelation–over and under. Photo by CSMC.
At Orvis, Simon has held several leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Creative and Brand Marketing, before becoming President. Simon promotes initiatives to diversify fly fishing, such as the “50/50 On the Water” initiative and the Breaking Barriers Award. He serves on the board of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and has previously been on the boards of Trout Unlimited Headwaters and the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Simon advocates for Orvis’s efforts in conservation, particularly in critical areas like Bristol Bay, Alaska, and Florida’s Everglades.
Illustration by Thom Glace – rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. Used with permission.
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