What Does "Established in 1980" Mean for Selectafly?

Selectafly's "Established in 1980" claim means the company has been trading as a fly supplier for over four decades, and it describes itself as family owned and run. In practice, that history is the main thing you're weighing when deciding whether to buy: a long trading record, a stated base of longstanding customers worldwide, and a set of product ranges built up over that time. It tells you the business has survived and kept customers, but it doesn't by itself tell you anything about current prices, stock levels, or delivery times beyond what the site states.

What the history actually signals

• Longevity, not a guarantee. Trading since 1980 suggests the company has stayed in business through changes in the fly market, which is a reasonable proxy for reliability. It is not a quality rating for any individual fly.
• Family owned and run. This is how Selectafly describes itself, which usually means you're dealing with a smaller operation rather than a large retailer. That often shows up in customer service, but it also means stock and range may be narrower than a big-box supplier.
• Worldwide supply. The company says it supplies flies to large numbers of longstanding customers around the world, and its site includes a note for customers based outside the UK. If you're ordering internationally, that's a signal they handle overseas orders, but check postage and any customs implications yourself.

The product ranges and who each suits

Selectafly groups its flies into ranges, and the distinction matters more than the company's age when you're choosing what to buy.

There are also fly boxes, Gink, strike indicators and other accessories, plus a Special Offers section. If you're new to the site, the Original Range is the natural starting point on value grounds; if you need barbless by rule, go straight to that range rather than assuming a standard hook can be swapped.

Ordering details worth knowing before you buy

• Free UK postage on orders of £35 or more. The asterisk on the site suggests conditions apply, so confirm the terms at checkout if your basket is close to the threshold.
• Phone and email contact. The site lists 01753 883366 and [email protected], so you can ask about stock, international shipping or specific patterns before ordering.
• Prices are listed per fly or per selection. Examples on the site include Grayling Selection at £32.95, individual flies from £1.75 to £4.00, and a Croston's Drop Back Bung Selection at £29.95. Treat these as the figures shown at the time you look, not fixed.

How to judge whether the history makes it a reliable choice

The customer feedback quoted on the site is unusually specific about dispatch speed — one reviewer notes an order placed late Thursday arriving Saturday morning, another mentions an order placed one afternoon arriving the next day, and a third mentions a free-flies gesture after overpaying postage. Fast dispatch and small goodwill gestures are the kind of thing a long-running family business tends to get right, and they're more useful to you than the founding date.

A sensible way to decide:

1. Check the range you need exists in the right hook type (barbed, barbless, or a specific brand like Fulling Mill).
2. Compare the per-fly price against your usual supplier, remembering the £35 free-postage threshold if you're in the UK.
3. If you're outside the UK, email first to confirm shipping cost and times rather than assuming the UK postage terms apply.
4. For a first order, keep it small and judge dispatch and tying quality yourself — the quoted reviews are a starting point, not a substitute.

If you want a supplier with a long track record, a clear range structure and evidence of quick dispatch, Selectafly's 1980 history supports that. If you need a very wide catalogue, same-day guaranteed delivery, or detailed stock visibility, a larger retailer may serve you better — the founding date alone won't settle that.