Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Specialty Sports Stores or Major Sporting Goods Stores?

By Frank Cabella

The specialty sporting goods store dominated the market in their area for decades. But lately the major sporting goods stores have integrated the specialty sporting goods store into a more complete shopping experience.

Given the specialty sporting goods stores learned how to adapt their products to the consumer almost dynamically; the major sporting goods stores have been able to incorporate the same ideas. The major sporting goods stores are better now at competing with specialty stores.

Now you can find pretty much any product for your sport of interest. There is an extensive offering of paintball guns, extreme sports, not to mention the perennial team sport products.

But, you might want to evaluate the following when shopping a sporting goods store:

1. What is the mix of specialty products with typical sporting goods?

2. Do they send out ads for special promotions on a weekly basis?

3. Does the layout of the store make it easier to find what you are looking for?

Sporting goods stores are continuing to change given the consumer is becoming much more educated in the type, brand, and price of the sporting goods product they are looking for. The future success of any sporting goods store will be its ability to change and adapt with the consumer. - 15438

About the Author: