Shakespeare Fishing is an iconic fishing brand with over 100 years of history providing equipment that's helped millions of people learn to fish. The Shakespeare Kids' Rod + Reel Combo is a one-piece fishing rod and reel designed to introduce new generations of young children (ages 4-8) to fishing. The design teaches lifelong fishing skills while minimizing frustrations. The three-part co-molded Gel-Tech comfort grip handle with finger loop makes it easy for kids' hands to grip and hold. Using the oversized, dished button trigger with grippy fish scale texture, kids learn to cast with confidence. Modular, swappable components cater to diverse ages, genders, retail environments and pricing strategies. The design also leverages beloved Disney and Mattel characters, adding a fun and marketable appeal which engages kids' imaginations, ensuring a memorable entry point into the joy of fishing for generations to come.

Innovative Design
Parents teaching their children to fish want their kids to learn and have fun without the frustrations of poorly designed or cheap equipment that doesn't cater to their developing abilities. The ages of 4–8 years are critical to children's development of fine motor skills and coordination. At this age, kids still lack the strength and dexterity of their older peers. Most of the fishing equipment marketed to this age group is hard for kids to hold and use. Kids reels are usually low-cost and semi-disposable, leading to breakdowns and frustration, and the bland designs inspire little confidence or imagination.

By carefully considering the experience of the 4–8-year-old anglers (and their parents) the designers developed a new rod + reel combo with features and elements that cater to each child's hands and imaginations, providing a platform for them to practice and develop, from living room games to real outdoor fishing.

The combo platform is comprised of modular, swappable components, enabling Shakespeare to offer a range of SKUs to meet the needs of various ages, genders, and retail strategies. With the incorporation of friendly sea-inspired shapes, and graphics featuring favorite children's characters, the product not only meets the functional needs of young anglers but also captures their imagination.

User Focus
Observing young families fishing and how kids interact with their equipment, designers identified opportunities to improve the fishing rod + reel experience for kids aged 4–8, including better fit and ergonomics for their small hands and developing motor skills. Existing products in the market had bulky handles that were awkward and uncomfortable for young kids to use, and the slippery grips made them easy to lose.

To make the rod easy for small children to grab and hold securely, the design includes a soft molded Gel-Tech comfort grip, enclosed finger loop, and chunky, dimpled knob design. The trigger button is located closer to the grip, with a dished, fish-scale texture, to improve grip and leverage. The dimpled knob design is slightly over sized and easy to manipulate and grab. The grippy handle includes an enclosed finger loop, which helps keep the rod in the child's hand while learning to cast. The closed cone and open eyelet design help teach lifelong line maintenance skills while minimizing tangles and frustration.

Kids have the most fun when they are learning and building new skills. This combo is designed to help young beginner anglers build their skills and stay safe through each stage of the journey. For first timers, the combo includes a fun fish-shaped soft molded casting aid so kids can play games and practice their casting at home. When they are ready to graduate to live fishing, the rod includes a thoughtfully designed hook keeper feature to keep the hook safe.

Service to Client and Brand
With the COVID-19 pandemic driving more families to seek safe outdoor recreational activities, the industry saw a 30% surge in fishing participation. Retailers, recognizing the trend, were eager to enhance their assortment with products designed for the whole family. The Shakespeare Kids Rod + Reel Combos, with their kid friendly designs, diverse assortment, and top-tier licensed characters proved to be just the ticket, leading to robust sales for Shakespeare and retailers.

The Shakespeare Kids' Rod + Reel Combo is more than a single rod + reel design, it's a modular platform that enables Shakespeare to offer a comprehensive matrix of solutions for their various retail partners. By swapping physical components, CMF, and graphic applications, they can provide their customers with a bespoke assortment to address various ages, genders, price-points, and preferences.

To capture the imagination of young anglers, the products are enhanced with beloved Disney and Matel toys and characters like Spiderman and Elsa. The fun colors and recognizable characters inspire more kids to explore fishing. The assortment includes a strategic range of art styles and color / material / finish combinations to appeal to the wide range of children's tastes, favorite colors, and characters. To make the product accessible to the youngest anglers, The Shakespeare Kids' Rod + Reel Combo maintains a competitive price while holding to a higher standard of quality and ergonomics.

Impact

The Shakespeare Kids' Rod + Reel Combo is designed to make it easy for more kids to learn and enjoy fishing, a rewarding outdoor activity with a wide range of developmental and health benefits.

Getting outside and learning to fish has many benefits for the developing minds and bodies of young children. Waiting for a fish to bite teaches patience, mindfulness, perseverance, and problem-solving. Learning the mechanics of casting, reeling, and releasing fish helps children develop their coordination and motor skills. When children learn to fish with parents and grandparents, they build and strengthen family bonds. As they learn about and spend time outdoors, they develop an appreciation for nature. Best of all, fishing can be enjoyed for a lifetime, from childhood to old age.

The Shakespeare Kids' Rod + Reel Combo helps more children learn to fish by providing the perfect balance of fun, easy, and skill advancing features at a price point every family can afford. With better grip, easier to actuate buttons, and improved safety features, these combos reduce common fishing frustrations. The soft molded practice "bait" turns the product into a game that can be played anywhere, helping kids have fun while learning the fundamentals. The products are thoughtfully engineered, well made and meant to last, so they provide years of value. Compared to cheap, semi-disposable competitors, the long-lasting products mean less waste and environmental impact.

Thoughtful Aesthetics
The Shakespeare Kids' Rod + Reel Combo is designed to stand out and appeal to kids in a crowded and visually complex retail environment, with colors and form to express the fun, easy, and skill advancing features of the product.

When kids get a hold of this combo, they know they are in for some kid-friendly fun. The rod + reel system features friendly, sea-inspired shapes like a fish-shaped actuator button, complete with fish scale texture. Kids know immediately this isn't their parents' boring fishing rod. The playful color pallets coordinate with a wide selection of their favorite characters from Disney and Mattel, so every child can choose their favorite and truly "own" their first fishing rod.

The designs also include thoughtful visual elements to express the easy-to-use, approachable nature of the product. Simple color blocking and chunky, rounded features help reduce visual complexity. Key touchpoints feature a common accent color and stylized texture, making their operation more intuitive.

The form and textures of the handle are designed to express the unique and grippy construction. Soft molded rubber sections are textured for added grip and visual contrast, while the rounded, flowing handle and finger loop looks and feels right at home in a child's hand.