Valentin Daubré, a mechanical engineer, first worked in machine design in the Paris region. A keen fisherman since childhood, he met the founder of the PEUX Fly Fishing brand at a trade fair in 2014. He completed an internship of several months in Ticino which consolidated his skills in machining and product development. He took over the PEUX Fly Fishing business in 2018, when its former owner retired. Interview with a dynamic entrepreneur who has managed to combine passion and work.
Why did you move the production tool to the Canton of Neuchâtel?
I took over the production facilities in 2020. I wanted to stay in Switzerland to preserve the Swiss Made. In Neuchâtel, the entire industrial fabric in terms of precision mechanics and subcontracting is close at hand, thanks to the highly developed watchmaking and medical sectors. I machine my parts myself and for that I need tools and raw materials available within a radius of 3 km, so I don’t waste time. For anodising (surface treatment), I have access to many service providers, so I can really choose according to my needs. The level of quality and requirements of the subcontractors is also very high, probably due to the standards required by the watch industry.
How does PEUX Fly Fishing stand out from the competition?
Our brand image is based on the technical nature of our products. Our “Speedline” reels are geared reels. When you make one turn of the crank, the reel makes four and a half turns. We are the only ones in the world with that level of gearing. We also have semi-automatic reels. The line is retrieved by operating a lever on the front of the reel, which makes retrieval very quick and effortless.
Customisation is also central to our service. Currently, around 50% of our orders are customised. In the fishing world, it is quite common to collect beautiful equipment, such as rods and reels.
What are your goals for this year?
I already have customers in the US, Australia and Europe and I want to strengthen my presence in these markets through a focus on communication and marketing.
I’m looking to hire someone in the next few months, which will free up some time for product development, especially a saltwater fishing reel for which I have many requests. Finally, now that I am well established, I would like to subcontract. Hence the importance of increasing my sales volumes so that it becomes financially attractive.