Question 1

What is TackleDrop?

Accepted Answer

TackleDrop is a Maker Business Operating System for independent, handcrafted fishing lure makers. It's not just a marketplace — it's a complete platform where makers run their shop, manage buyers, schedule drops, track inventory, and grow their brand, all in one place.

Question 2

What makes TackleDrop different from Etsy or Amazon?

Accepted Answer

TackleDrop is built specifically for fishing lure makers. Unlike general marketplaces: No commission on your sales (just a flat monthly fee on Pro). You own your buyer data — it's saved to your CRM, not the platform's. Drop scheduling with tiered buyer early access. Inventory management with SKU tracking. Supplier tracking for your materials and components. No algorithm deciding who sees your products.

Question 3

What can I sell on TackleDrop?

Accepted Answer

Handcrafted and custom fishing tackle, including: Hard Baits, Soft Plastics, Jigs, Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits, Flies, Fishing Rods, Terminal Tackle, Accessories, Used/Swap items, and Wanted Board postings.

Question 4

Is TackleDrop only for lure makers?

Accepted Answer

While the primary focus is custom lure makers, TackleDrop also supports rod builders, fly tiers, and makers of terminal tackle and fishing accessories. If you handcraft fishing gear, you belong here.

Question 5

How do I set up my shop?

Accepted Answer

After signing up, you'll have a dedicated shop page with a customizable URL (tackledrop.fishing/your-shop). You can add your logo, banner, bio, and social links (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, website).

Question 6

What is a Drop?

Accepted Answer

A Drop is a scheduled product launch. You set the date, time, and quantity available. Buyers in different tiers get early access: VIP (Tier 3) gets 60 minutes early, Preferred (Tier 2) gets 30 minutes early, and Standard (Tier 1) gets access at the public launch time. When the inventory is gone, it's gone — creating controlled scarcity that rewards your most loyal buyers.

Question 7

Can I manage my inventory?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TackleDrop includes a full inventory management system with SKU tracking. When an order comes in, your inventory quantities automatically adjust. You can link inventory items to product listings for cross-feature synchronization.

Question 8

How do orders work?

Accepted Answer

When a buyer places an order, TackleDrop automatically: 1) Creates a CRM contact record for the buyer, 2) Adjusts your inventory quantities, 3) Updates your pipeline stage, 4) Processes payment via Stripe.

Question 9

Do I need Stripe?

Accepted Answer

TackleDrop uses Stripe for payment processing. You'll need to connect a Stripe account to receive payouts. Setup is quick and done directly from your dashboard.

Question 10

What is the Buyer CRM?

Accepted Answer

The CRM is your private contact management system where every buyer is saved with their purchase history, preferences, and contact details. It's organized into five sections: Contacts, Pipeline, Messages, Reminders, and Suppliers.

Question 11

Is my CRM data private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your CRM is completely private to you. No other maker or buyer can see your contacts, notes, tags, or activity logs.

Question 12

Can I tag or organize my buyers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can add custom tags, private notes, and activity logs to each contact. You can also set reminders for follow-ups.

Question 13

What is the Supplier tracker?

Accepted Answer

The Supplier section lets you track your procurement data — lead times, minimum order quantities, material categories — independent of your buyer interactions. This helps you manage your supply chain alongside your sales.

Question 14

Is it free to browse and buy on TackleDrop?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Buyers browse and shop for free. No membership required to purchase.

Question 15

How do buyer tiers work?

Accepted Answer

Makers assign buyers to tiers based on loyalty and relationship: Tier 1 (Standard) gets standard access to drops, Tier 2 (Preferred) gets 30-minute early access to drops, and Tier 3 (VIP) gets 60-minute early access to drops. Tiering is at the maker's discretion and varies by shop.

Question 16

Can I follow multiple makers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can follow and buy from as many makers as you'd like. Each maker manages their own tier system for you independently.

Question 17

How do I sign up?

Accepted Answer

Go to tackledrop.fishing/maker-os to start your free account. No credit card required to get started.

Question 18

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can switch plans at any time from your dashboard settings. Subscriptions are managed through Stripe.

Question 19

What if I need to cancel?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel your subscription at any time. You'll keep access until the end of your billing period, then revert to the free plan. Your shop and data remain intact.

Question 20

Is TackleDrop mobile-friendly?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TackleDrop works in any modern mobile or desktop browser.

Question 21

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

Email team@tackledrop.fishing for any questions or support needs.

The TackleDrop Journal

The Pour That Almost Wasn't