STOCKHOLM — Fishbrain, the world’s most popular social network for anglers with over nine million users globally, is tapping into the $48 billion US fishing retail sector with the launch of the Fishbrain Shop, an in-app marketplace which allows users to find and purchase the best fishing gear from some of the world’s most respected brands.
Available initially in the United States, on iOS, Android, and online, the Fishbrain Shop speeds up the process of purchasing tackle, with users able to do so within a centralized marketplace, and without having to leave the Fishbrain app, providing a seamless and frictionless buying experience.
The store presents different categories, including Baits & Lures, Rods, Boat Accessories, Reels etc., from which users can easily find and purchase products they need for their next trip from over 80 of the leading brands, including Mustad, Aftco, Favorite Fishing, Googan Baits and Omnia Fishing, with more being added continually. Users can also search through brands’ dedicated pages, and read honest reviews left by anglers who have tried and tested equipment, meaning they can purchase with confidence.
In addition to being able to search for specific items and brands, whenever a user sees a catch by a fellow angler on their Fishbrain Feed they will be able to identify which gear was used and go directly through to the store to buy it. The introduction of this soon to be released feature is demonstrative of Fishbrain’s goal of becoming a key player within the social commerce sector.
According to a 2018 study by GfK, the number of US internet users who feel that social networks have become as important as other information sources in making purchase decisions rose from 27% to 36% between 2015 and 2018.
Brands Receive Insights Data and Exposure
The Fishbrain Shop allows fishing brands of all sizes to get their products in front of the world’s number one fishing community of over nine million anglers. In addition to providing tools and resources that will increase sales and enhance brand identity, Fishbrain will also supply deep analytical performance insights into how anglers are using their products.
Fishbrain CEO and co-founder Johan Attby comments: “Our aim has always been to make fishing easier for everyone, and to advance a sport fishing industry in desperate need of modernizing. With the launch of the Fishbrain Shop we are simplifying the process of finding and buying fishing gear, which has until now been arduous and time-consuming. The Fishbrain Shop centralizes the whole experience, providing users with the best gear from some of the most popular brands out there, all accessible from our award-winning mobile app.
“The benefits for brands are vast and significant. Not only do they get their products and name in front of the world’s biggest fishing community, which will help both with sales and brand building, but our unique data offering gives them unprecedented insights into the popularity and efficacy of their products. This is a real game-changer for the way that retailers operate and engage with an increasingly savvy consumer base which expects top class user experience and design.”
Honest reviews left by anglers who have tried and tested equipment mean that users can purchase with confidence.
Fishbrain Shop represents the next step in Fishbrain’s mission to move beyond individual catches and to offer anglers everything they need for their fishing trips, all in one place, while connecting the broader fishing industry, including brands, organizations, government bodies, and more. The store provides Fishbrain with an additional revenue stream beyond its Premium subscriptions, with the company taking a referral fee from each transaction. Fishbrain is proud of its position as a social network that monetizes in an ethical way, without selling personal data.
Fishbrain has partnered with Marketplacer, the leading online marketplace platform, to launch the intuitively designed online store.
The Fishbrain Shop is the latest example of Fishbrain applying technological expertise to sport fishing. Earlier this year the company launched Fishbrain BiteTime™, the world’s most advanced fishing forecast, powered by machine learning. In 2018, Fishbrain was a launch partner for Google’s ML Kit, utilizing machine learning to allow anglers to automatically identify species of fish in photos. Following the release of iOS 12, Fishbrain integrated with Siri, with the virtual assistant suggesting the best fishing spots and helping users log their catches, by simply having to say “Siri, where can I go fishing” or “Siri, log my catch.”
Fishbrain can be downloaded for free from the App Store and Google Play Store, with a Premium offering, which includes enhanced features, including Fishbrain BiteTime and crowdsourced depth contours, provided through C-Map Social Maps, costing $9.99/month or $74.99/year.