A YOUTUBE hit and family business has thanked its customers following one year of selling trusted carp bait.
Parker Baits, in Durley, acknowledged its one-year anniversary with a fishing open day on Saturday, August 13.
The company in Winters Hill, founded by brothers Ben and Tom Parker, aims to sell high quality carp bait and boilies that anglers can trust for better fishing.
The Parker brothers left their careers in gaming arcade attractions behind when and demand for their homemade product was growing and they realised fellow fishers were also struggling with inferior bait.
The duo then developed the from their YouTube channel ‘Parker Brothers’ which now accounts for around 80 per cent of their customer base and brings in 60,000 views a month to the company.
Reflecting on their first year of business, younger brother Tom said: “It’s amazing. Everything has far exceeded our expectations massively and we can’t thank our customers enough for everything they have done for us. The customer base is growing, and we really noticed that on Saturday. It was the loveliest group of people we’ve ever had.
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The open day was sold out, welcoming 150 people to take part in one-to-one fishing tuition with the team of Parker Baits ambassadors, a long castign competition and a barbecue. Meanwhile, a live bait demo from Ben, showed exactly what goes into their products.
Tom, 24, continued: “Most companies nowadays throughout the UK, they hide what’s in their bait because there’s not a lot in it. We wanted to show people exactly what’s going into the product their buying- it’s our ethic.
“The people that came down on the day, they walked away with a lot more of an insight and detail of what goes into our products. There were a lot of new customers looking to learn about our company because they’d seen it online and wanted to know more so they came down to the open day- which is fantastic to see some more new local customers. There were so many parents and children that came to the open day that love watching the YouTube.”
At the end of the open event, a mega raffle saw 14 year old Luke Anderson win 24 hours with Ben at Linear fishery in Oxford- with all bait, fishing, travel and expenses paid for.
The brothers were supported by the rest of the Parker family, including their, Mum, Dad, Nan, Grandad and partners, allowing visitors to appreciate the family spirit behind the business.
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Whilst Tom manages the online side of the business, including the online store, orders and social media, fishing fanatic Ben is behind the bait production and the YouTube channel.
29-year-old Ben has a passion for carp fishing exceeding twenty years. Having often worked together, Tom was keen build a business from his brother’s hobby.
With their parents and Nan on hand to lend help where they can the brother founded the company in 2020 before officially launching the online store on August 1, 2021.
Parker Baits also offer in-person appointments at their factory in Durley.
For more information go to parkerbaits.co.uk/
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