Lauri Rapala, founder of the business Rapala, was born in Finland in 1905. Grew up in a poor family, to make a living farming and fishing. For a better life for themselves and their families, Laurie began to develop the fishing lures that could improve the performance of his hobbies. In 1936 he finally managed to cut roughly the bait, which was essentially the basis for many lures Rapala. Rapala story began in the years 1945-1955.
After the Second World War, Laura has updated his small but thriving business before the war. He was sure that he developed a successful design lures, which he developed further. Laurie first manufactured it myself, but soon joined him and his family. Despite the increase in production volumes, Lauri insisted on testing each bait, to make sure that its action was correct.
Foreign visitors in Helsinki Olympics in 1952 were among the first who tried to lure Rapala outside Finland. In 1955, the first exports began in Sweden and Norway, and then in the U.S.. In 1957 the business was formed, and Rapala-Uistin - new company was created. In 1959, Ron Weber and Ray Ostrom began to spread in the U.S. Rapala.
In 1962 the magazine "Life" published a long article about Rapala. He was in the same edition as the history of Marilyn Monroe, who had just died. Accordingly, the article is about the miracle bait hit almost every hand.
volume of export sales was expanded in the early 60s from the U.S. to Canada. Rapala in the mid-60s signed the first contracts with French companies Rago and VMC. Many new models were released in bait production in the 60's. By the mid-1970s there have been many distribution companies in Canada, Britain and Sweden. At the same time, Rapala has signed distribution agreements with Denmark and France. Now available are gear fishing tackle and Russia > and find they can be almost any store on hunting and fishing.
After the death of Lauri Rapala in 1974, the company name was changed to a Rapala Oy and eldest son, was appointed by President Risto Rapala and his brothers took a few other posts. Production methods and technologies have been developed and potential.
In 1989, Esko Rapala, who led the development of baits from the mid-80, was appointed president of Rapala.
In 1991 Rapala began a partnership with Shimano.
In the late 1990s, Rapala bought the Storm (USA), was established distribution company in Japan, and began to develop production in Estonia.
Rapala was a success in the world.