At Rapala VMC we want to offer outstanding experiences for anglers all over the world. Understanding and meeting our customers’ and consumers’ evolving needs locally is the cornerstone of our business. For this, we need the right experts onboard: the ones who also live and breath the sport themselves. Read more about Toninho Correia’s story, that combines the passion for angling and sales!
So Toninho, you’ve had a long career at Rapala VMC. Can you tell us a little bit about your role and career path?
Yes, by now I have worked at Rapala for 20 years, so quite some time! Ever since I started working at the company, I have been working with sales. However, over time thanks to the opportunity given to me by my managers, especially Mr. Francisco Ruiz Ogarrio, I got a chance to start contributing to the development of new products, especially rods. This has been a great success for more than 10 years, in Brazil and other countries. I think participating in product development is a very natural fit for me, since of course as a sales professional I work closely with our customers and hear their wishes and needs firsthand.
What do you enjoy the most about working in the fishing tackle industry?
I think that the fishing tackle industry has people who are passionate about what they do. I can say that I am passionate about my profession, so this is something I find important.
What advice would you give to someone looking to combine their love for fishing with a professional career?
I would say that I am privileged to be able to combine my passion, which has been fishing since I was a child, with my professional career that has spanned over 30 years. And if I could give anyone any advice, I would certainly say that go for it! Anyone can find the perfect mix in their life by combining their professional career and personal interest (or could I say, love).
And lastly: if you were a Rapala lure, which one would you be and why?
This is not a simple question, after all there are so many Rapala lures that can be associated with many things. But I would certainly go with an XRMAG and most likely a 40”, because it goes deep, is resistant to adversity and always seeks to achieve goals where many others do not.
