New Running store name

Run Forest

Tess Tickle's Athletic Attic

Mike Rotch Sports

Suk Mibals Sports

Harden Thick Running Centre

Nameless wrote:

So a (wealthy) friend and I are planning to open a running store next spring. Sorry I can't say which city, but it will be in a somewhat underserved city with a population of 2 million, and in an urban setting close to downtown. The store would probably be 80% running, and 20% devoted to "Athleisure" and/or adapting to whatever supplementary activities are trending.

Some of the names that we've tossed around are as follows:

- VO2

- Local Motion

- Gymnazein (orig. Greek. The word 'gymnasium' comes from the Greek word “gymnazein”, which literally means “to exercise naked.”)

- Momentum

- Kick

- Fartlek

We want the name not tied to the city, should we wish to expand.

I would welcome your input on these names and any others you might be able to offer up.

Your mix is probably more 50% runners, 50% people who want running shoes but won't run in them.

Out of all the names you listed, only Momentum would make any sense at all.

My first thought is to have "running" or same variation on the name.

If I look at the names you listed, none of them would make me think it was a running shoe store.

Oh, you know how you become a millionaire owning a running shoe store?

Start with $2 million and then when you lose a million get out.

Momentum sounds like a night club to me.

Nameless wrote:

it will be in a somewhat underserved city with a population of 2 million

There are only 4 American cities with a population of over 1.5 million. Houston? NY, LA and Chicago are not underserved.

How about Ree Churond Track and Field Supplies?

Run4yourlife

Sprint, jog, run

Running on Air

Jog,Jog,Dash

Track and Feel

Long Jump, Longer Hump

Jog My Hog

Fleet Meat

Dash of Gash-A store for women

The Running Store

Long, Hard & Sweaty

Faster, Faster!

Hot & Tight

Don't.

I think you need to better think out what you're selling and who you're trying to serve. 80/20 running/leisure stuff doesn't make any sense to me. You won't reach many non-runners and the ones that come in aren't going to buy much beyond running stuff. I would do something like 40/30/30 running/tri/leisure. There's nearly as much money in tris are there is in running so i don't know why you wouldn't cater to that crew, and you want as many regular weekend types to come in as possible. You have any idea how much performance product Dick's sells? Not to mention there are tons of running stores and few tri stores. I don't even do tris but if I was starting a store you can bet I'd cater to those moneybags.

Running Re-laid

Coming From Behind

Sit and Lick

Back of the (Fudge) Pack

Filled to the Gills

Face Down Ass Up That's the Way I Like to Rupp

Pronghorn Sports

"The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere" and indigenous to Texas, so if this store is in Houston (as the population implies) you'll get the yahoos too.

Do not open a running store. Just. Don't.

The time to enter the market was in 2005-10. All you needed to do was turn on your "OPEN" sign and comp 15% growth a year. Now, accounts are closing left and right thanks to many factors. Most important of which are omnichannel concerns and on-line retailers.

In other words: you are not going to be around in 1 year. I am a rep for one of the brands that you are going to need in your store, and we aren't opening new accounts amid saturation issues and inventory levels not allowing it.

I have had the same situation happen a number of times: Runners with a ton of cash wanting to open up their own running store. Business doesn't really get up and running within 10 months and they close. for every account like this that I opened, there were 2 that I didn't that played out the same way.

Just. Don't.