Desire to start a running store and need some ground truth

Well then, it's a moot point. Mr joe sells ADIDAS that he got from eastbay and Adidas can't do squat. Maybe he doesn't get an account, maybe he does. In reality, he gets it eventually. Anyway, you were wrong and half of letsrun lit you up. Oh, but you work led for ADIDAS, how can you be wrong!?! Loser.

Yo MTV raps wrote:

ghost of MacTarnahan wrote:

It's up to adidas (adidas is all lower case-you probably didn't know that) running business unit to decide to open an account. It's not the reps call. If you think that because this store starts selling adidas that it buys from other sources, adidas is going to be pressured into opening an account with this store, you are mistaken. That's the LAST thing adidas is going to do.

Well then, it's a moot point. Mr joe sells ADIDAS that he got from eastbay and Adidas can't do squat. Maybe he doesn't get an account, maybe he does. In reality, he gets it eventually. Anyway, you were wrong and half of letsrun lit you up. Oh, but you work led for ADIDAS, how can you be wrong!?! Loser.

Your grammar is atrocious. Do yourself a favor and go back to school.

Hahaha, I know I've won an argument when the idiot stops arguing and says "your grammar is atrocious". Ha, love it!

BTW, I went a way better university than you, promise. I was a biology major so I didn't really focus on writing. I'm so glad you understood my horrible grammar enough to know you lost and you are a loser.

If you are so smart you would realize that there is a contraction for "you are". Its "your". I advise you to use it.

Yo MTV raps wrote:

Hahaha, I know I've won an argument when the idiot stops arguing and says "your grammar is atrocious". Ha, love it!

BTW, I went a way better university than you, promise. I was a biology major so I didn't really focus on writing. I'm so glad you understood my horrible grammar enough to know you lost and you are a loser.

I did compete at the University of Oregon, so it was primarily due to athletics. It would have been amusing grading your academic work. No diploma? I did graduate.

Charlie E wrote:

I live in a very active community with roughly 150,000 residents. There is only one Foot Locker in the area and a small sporting good store with limited selection.

The biggest races have 5000 runners and most of the small races still get 250-500 turnout.

What are the most visible concerns a seasoned store owner would have before jumping into this market?

How challenging is it to develop supplier for both running apparel and shoes?

Thanks in advance for the comments.

OMG, don't do it. It's a money pit and a fast way to BK.

I've been running-at various levels of seriousness-for nearly 40 years. One thing that currently bothers me is the constant "refreshment" of running shoe models. I'm currently a New Balance guy-I liked the 1224, it became the 1225, the 1226, the 1260, now the 1260 v2. It's the same shoe-but not quite the same shoe. I usually buy last year's model when they hit the sale rack. Sadly, the 1260v2 is not at all the same as the 1224 I bought in 2006 or so.

I would think a good niche might be to carry the 1224 (or whatever) for as long as possible-3, 4 or 5 years maybe-instead of a year. Call your store "Vintage Shoes" That way, when someone gets fitted with a shoe that works, they can come back 500 miles later and buy the same one-and not have to start over again with a tweaked variant.

Maybe the whole store wouldn't have to be that way-but I think there is a demand for people to buy their old favorites. Back in the late 70s/early 80s, I ran in Nike Daybreaks-probably went through 3 or 4 pairs a year. I was able to keep that up for a good 6 years or so-without really trying. Now-there's no way that would happen. By the end of the 6 years, I'd be running in Daybreak Mark IVs, with some kind of atomic air pocket shit going on-that would end up giving me IT band syndrome. I'd rather just buy the same old shoe again. The beauty of this is you can load up on the shoes when New Balance or Nike liquidates last year's stock. I think the fashion industry believes all the money is in the new styles-but I think there are a lot of people who like to sit in a groove.

I spend a lot of money on ERG, and superfeet, and headlamps. Don't neglect the non shoe aspect of the sport. Some of this other stuff can have a good markup.

I agree with many of the comments here about the expanding market. In 1987-A three hour marathon got you in the top thousand in New York. Now, it's the same thing. The only difference is, in 1987 you beat 8000 people. Now you beat 45,000 people. Those 37,000 people need shoes. Don't give up your dream-but be smart about it. Take a road trip. Go to towns similar in size and culture to yours, and look at running stores in those places. See what they do, and don't do well.

Finally-low debt and slow growth.

ghost of MacTarnahan wrote:

Yo MTV raps wrote:

Hahaha, I know I've won an argument when the idiot stops arguing and says "your grammar is atrocious". Ha, love it!

BTW, I went a way better university than you, promise. I was a biology major so I didn't really focus on writing. I'm so glad you understood my horrible grammar enough to know you lost and you are a loser.

I did compete at the University of Oregon, so it was primarily due to athletics. It would have been amusing grading your academic work. No diploma? I did graduate.

OMG, you went to U of Oregon and correct people's grammar?! That is literally one of the worst state schools in the country. I certainly hope you graduated, a squirrel could graduate from that school.

This gets funnier and funnier. This idiot gets schooled by about 15 people on this thread. Then he feels like a loser so insults the grammar in a post... And then we learn he went to Oregon!? Hilarious.

i worked at a running store for years. this often bothered the employees, but to be honest most if not 99% of the customers wanted the updated version, and the few who wished to stay with the older version wanted a huge discount the second the new one came out. So I agree that the constant changes are frustrating, but only for the very very small vocal minority of serious runners. Add on sales is really basic stuff. no store stays in biz without getting a person to buy some a pair of inserts to go along with their 150 dollar shoes. Most successful stores are 70% clothes/accessories 30% shoes. the shoe part is really the bait to get them in the store. Unless you are selling the high end shoe(kayano, hurricane, etc) you are barely making money.

The running industry spread across specialty stores for 2012 had a breakdown of 60% footwear sales, 25% Accessories sales & 15% Apparel sales. Source: LeisureTrends.

I have no shame in admitting that I was a Duck. I accepted the opportunity to compete for a program that I admired since I was in junior high school. My first trip to Hayward Field as sophomore in high school blew my mind. It is a Running Mecca. I'm assuming that you've never been there. My education lead to jobs in my chosen field. You, on the other hand, did not graduate, struggle to break 19 minutes for 5K, have hair on your knuckles, your boyfriend is tired of paying for dinner, your parents want you to move out, Burger King says "you're fired."

Yo MTV raps, I have read your posts here, and on other threads. I officially award you the, "Biggest Fagg0t of LetsRun Award!" (BFLA) Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any type of retail is a very hard business to be successful.

The closest running store from me is 40 miles away. There is a Dick's 30 miles the other way. I occasionally visit the running store 40 miles away to buy a pair of shoes not because I can try them on and see different styles but simply because I like the guys that run the store and I like what they do for the running community in their area.

As an independant retailer, you really have to sell yourself first and people will buy from you for reasons other than just the inventory of shoes you carry.

Opening this kind of business sounds like an excellent way to ruin your life and go broke at the same time. I've seen sooo many of these types of stores come and go over the last 30 years. Even before the internet, it was a tough go, but now...forget about it. The really good locations and markets (and you will need both and nothing less) have been snapped up long ago. Just say no to this idea.