Bob Kennedy and Meb Keflezighi Buying 3 San Diego Movin Shoes Running Stores

cool story, brah.

i wish them well.

Sounds like a business I would not even think of investing. Way too much competition even from smaller players like the Running Warehouse. And how about Amazon? They're selling Kinvara 3s for $60. It would have been a good business to get into in late 80s.

But they'll have a corner on the Skechers market.

Why is he selling shoes and not coaching? He knows how to go sub-13 without using meds and techno-gizmos.

Bob was very successful with his blue mile stores. I'm sure he will be with these stores as well.

Did he sell those stores, then? I must have missed that, though I see they are now "Blue Mile" instead of "Running Company".

Why is he selling shoes and not coaching? He knows how to go sub-13 without using meds and techno-gizmos.

he sure does

Taco Truck wrote:

Sounds like a business I would not even think of investing. Way too much competition even from smaller players like the Running Warehouse. And how about Amazon? They're selling Kinvara 3s for $60. It would have been a good business to get into in late 80s.

How out of touch are you? Kinvara4 is current model, so old version = worthless, you'll see it liquidated everywhere. Let me guess, you run in a pair of "new" pegasus 27's?

Also, the Run Specialty business is thriving as more and more people (aka women and hobby joggers) gravitate toward the sport. Data shows participation in running and a "healthy lifestyle" is at an all-time high. Plus, you can't replace getting properly fitted and having all your questions answered at a specialty running shop. I believe specialty running stores are one of the few industries resilient enough to withstand Amazon/Zappos/RunWarehouse etc etc etc....

Ole Timer wrote:

Did he sell those stores, then? I must have missed that, though I see they are now "Blue Mile" instead of "Running Company".

And Blue Mile was recently acquired by RSG:

el segundo wrote:

How out of touch are you? Kinvara4 is current model, so old version = worthless, you'll see it liquidated everywhere. Let me guess, you run in a pair of "new" pegasus 27's?

Also, the Run Specialty business is thriving as more and more people (aka women and hobby joggers) gravitate toward the sport. Data shows participation in running and a "healthy lifestyle" is at an all-time high. Plus, you can't replace getting properly fitted and having all your questions answered at a specialty running shop. I believe specialty running stores are one of the few industries resilient enough to withstand Amazon/Zappos/RunWarehouse etc etc etc....

This is more or less accurate. For the hardcore runner, i.e. the type that posts on Letsrun and either has worked or is qualified to work in a shoe store, there is no point in going into a running store when you know what you want and can get it cheaper online. But for the 95% of road race finishers that just run casually, more service is needed. One could argue that this is merely a perception and not reality, but either way running stores can still scrape by.

might be wejo wrote:

This is more or less accurate. For the hardcore runner, i.e. the type that posts on Letsrun and either has worked or is qualified to work in a shoe store, there is no point in going into a running store when you know what you want and can get it cheaper online. But for the 95% of road race finishers that just run casually, more service is needed. One could argue that this is merely a perception and not reality, but either way running stores can still scrape by.

Agreed. The good news for running stores is that hardcore runners make up only that small percentage of finishers/participants so the pool is still deep with people needing the education and advice a store provides.

side note: most "hardcore" runners could use a little education too, ha!

Interesting that all you "hard core" runners out there go online to buy shoes and other stuff as cheap as you can find. But let me guess, you're the first to go to your local running store to ask about getting comp'd into races?

Sometimes it's more than just getting a pair of shoes for less and more about building a community. The specialty running store is a place to hang out, swap stories, and be a part of something. Lord knows most of you are a bunch of socially awkward weirdos anyway.

So do something for running, help out the local business instead of the super discounters. Help Meb and Kennedy beat someone like RoadRunner or whatever that place is HQ'd in San Diego. You'll have a lot more fun doing it.

RM wrote:Sometimes it's more than just getting a pair of shoes for less and more about building a community. The specialty running store is a place to hang out, swap stories, and be a part of something. Lord knows most of you are a bunch of socially awkward weirdos anyway.

Very few specialty running stores are like this. God bless the ones that are.

what do you mean? many many runners used meds during this era but not Americans?

"San Diego native" eh? That'll be news to the folks in Eritrea.

el segundo wrote:

Ole Timer wrote:

Did he sell those stores, then? I must have missed that, though I see they are now "Blue Mile" instead of "Running Company".

And Blue Mile was recently acquired by RSG:

http://www.ibj.com/denver-based-firm-laps-up-bluemile-running-chain/PARAMS/article/41534

This is the same company that bought up the Boulder Running Company stores in May.

Everyone from Indy knows Bob didn't run those stores. It was his partner Ashley Johnson that ran those stores. Then Bob sold out to Ashley back in October and then recently Ashley sold out to RSG. Kennedy probably feels like an idiot since Ashley probably got a lot more money.

hmmm Kim McDonald trained and retired just after a test for epo came out...not sure

You are right, RSG is over paying like crazy...they are trying to build up one big asset made up of a bunch of small individual stores and then sell the entire big asset to some sucker for a tidy profit. Investment banking 101.