A Look Back

Charles F. Orvis opened his tackle shop in Manchester, Vermont in 1856 with the intention of helping nearby fishermen cast lines in nearby streams. Today, the Orvis brand has 44 retail locations on two continents, something old Chuck would likely have never fathomed. After surviving the Great Depression, Orvis changed hands in 1939 and again in 1965, when businessman and outdoor enthusiast Leigh H. Perkins took the helm. Perkins latched onto the pristine fly fishing tradition, but also saw potential for Orvis to embody a lifestyle. Under his direction, Orvis challenged national mail-order powerhouses like Eddie Bauer and Abercrombie & Fitch. In 1992, almost 30 years after buying the business for $400,000, Perkins turned the multi-million dollar company over to his sons Perk and Dave.