How It Works
What is the purpose of this website?
Just as I have promoted the UK Stillwater Fisheries using my stillwaterfisheries.com website I am using my skills and time to create a marketplace for UK Fly Tyers to list their products on their own online store but without the crazy fees that other platforms charge.
The goal is to create a One Stop Shop and Marketplace that brings together both Fly Anglers & Fly Tyers from the UK. This isn’t an ordinary online store – it’s where you can purchase directly from and help support some of the most creative minds from the UK Fly Tying Scene including your favourite Fly Tying Content Creators from Social Media.
It’s the marketplace for buying and selling UK Tied Flies where you can buy your favourite patterns from highly skilled Tyers who don’t use Social Media and also from your favourite Tyers that you see daily and are responsible for some of the flies that we all know, love and use every time we go on the water.
The purpose of this website certainly is not for me, Stef, to make a living from it. Whilst I offer my expertise, time and skills to create and maintain the website there are associated costs with running the website which need to be recouped. To ensure that the website has a fair and reasonable chance at being successful I have paid for all software licences and hosting fees to enable the platform to run until October 2026 and generate enough income to secure the costs for the 2nd year and further beyond.
Who makes the rules?
Ultimately, me – Stefan Flynn but from the outset I wanted to be 100% open when I created this Marketplace and the very first thing, before anything else, that I did was to create an Advisory Panel from a set number of the Fly Tyers who expressed an initial interest in the platform.
The group of Fly Tyers on the Advisory Panel have important input and have helped to create the rules for Marketplace Vendors including the all important Vendor Fees. I liaise and discuss privately any key issues regarding the website with the Advisory Panel so that it helps me understand the Fly Tyers perspective and help me make any final decisions. This enables me to gain invaluable feedback and a greater understanding on the issues that are most important to Fly Tyers and I am most grateful for the Tyers on the Advisory Panel for their input.
I'm a Fly Tyer - What is needed to sign up and create a Store?
There are a few important rules that you need to follow to start the Vendor application process.
- You will need to sign up and create a Stripe account before you can sell on the TFF Marketplace. This is required to ensure that you can get paid out and also for fraud prevention reasons.
- You can only sell flies tied by your own hands in the UK and no mass produced flies are allowed to be sold on the TFF Marketplace.
- I do appreciate that there are talented Tyers who also sell mass produced flies elsewhere and there are also some Tyers who like to pass on mass produced flies as their own. To ensure that the TFF Marketplace is fair to all, anyone suspected of not following the spirit of the rules with regards to mass produced flies may be subject to restrictions being placed on their accounts up to and including account termination. The same rules apply to me as well and that is why I have not listed any patterns that I have for sale elsewhere.
- Previously Blocked Tyers. For their own reasons some UK Fly Tyers may have blocked my accounts on Social Media since I started StillwaterFisheries and all that I ask is any blocks are removed and and to contact me with the acknowledgement that they have been removed when you start your application process to become a Vendor. I am doing this website with only the best of intentions for UK Fly Tyers and realise that some of those Fly Tyers are individuals who may have had a previous suboptimal experience. I am happy to let bygones be bygones and act like the grown, responsible adults that we are plus I will need access to your content to share and promote it.
I'm a Customer - How Long Will My Order Take?
The length of time an order can take to be fulfilled depends on many factors.
As the TFF Marketplace features multiple UK Tyers who tie each fly to order and don’t hold flies in stock the likelihood of receiving your order within a few days are quite remote.
On average, each order should be completed in around 14 days after your purchase but it can take up to one full month to receive your order.
I'm a Customer - How do I resolve a problem with my order.
You should contact the Vendor that you placed an order from in the first instance as the Marketplace Owner has no knowledge of any order specific issues.
If you have not received a satisfactory response from a Vendor regarding your query please reach out to the Marketplace Owner by using our Contact Form
I'm a Customer - Do I need to pay Multiple Postage Fees if I order from Multiple Vendors?
Yes. As the website and Vendors do not hold stock and all flies are tied to order you will need to pay a separate shipping fee from every Vendor in your Order