Has Cabelas Gotten Too Big for it's Britches
Has Cabelas, the classic outdoor retailer gotten too big for their britches? I’m Susan Allen stay tuned, I might ruffle a few feathers and they won’t be grouse. Hunting and fishing enthusiast worship in masses at Temple Cabela beneath stuffed lion, tigers and bears and oh my their offerings have created a mega corporation that in the end could destroy it’s very followers. For the men in my circle a Cabalas opening is a hallowed event, then a vacation destination. Yet sportsmen need to wake up to the behemoth they have created. In Montana they’ve done just that. Last year thousands returned their catalogs while others burned them in protest after the executive director of the Montana’s Wildlife Federation called the mega corporation to the table over the fact they are now in the ranch real estate business as Cabelas’ Trophy Properties. Cabelas has been aggressively buying up huge tracks of wild life range for it’s wealthy clientele, in the end selling out access for the average sportsman responsible for building their brand. The retailer responded by a writing check to the Montana’s land access program that amounted to less than the commission on one ranch sale while promising not to undermine Montana’s existing free public access. Right.. and like a bad cinch Cabelas has galled local communities for using it’s massive clout to attempt to secure government subsides to construct more stores, advantages small businesses would give their eye teeth for. I’m Susan Allen