Why Runners and Walkers Should Shop at Specialty Stores - Knowledge, Advice, Convenience, and Price
There are many reasons why runners and walkers should often shop at specialty stores -- also known as boutique stores -- for the right running or walking product for them.
Here are four of those reasons.
1.
Knowledge Specialty stores for runners and walkers usually are owned, operated, and staffed by runners and walkers.
It is simply too difficult for these stores to succeed otherwise.
They must have a passion for what they are selling because what runners and walkers buy can often be very technical, and the only way to maintain for years an interest in these goods is to have a passion for running or walking.
2.
Advice With that running or walking experience and knowledge comes expertise that you can leverage as a runner or walker to get the most up-to-date advice about what to buy to serve your training and racing needs.
Try getting good advice from a fresh-off-the-street salesperson at a big-box athletic store.
Even if one salesperson were an experienced runner or walker, what is the likelihood that all of the salespeople at a big-box store would be as knowledgeable as him or her? Beyond this, specialty stores usually pay for more specialized training of their salespeople than do the mass-market retailers of athletic goods.
3.
Convenience Open early in the morning to late in the evening, or even twenty-four hours a day, big-box athletic stores can be more convenient than specialty stores when it comes to store hours.
But convenience is not just about store hours.
If your running or walking training group regularly meets at a specialty store, it can be a lot more convenient to shop there than at a big-box store.
Some specialty stores even open their doors early when affiliated training groups meet outside their doors.
And some specialty stores will host after-hours events for training groups and have salespeople present to sells goods to group members.
Another form of convenience is the availability of special products.
Specialty stores are more likely to carry and have those items in stock than are big-bog athletic stores.
And who loves to make multiple trips to a store to buy something? Would you rather be on the road training or driving back and forth to get that special shoe or jersey that you really want? 4.
Price This reason may surprise you.
But specialty stores are often price-competitive with big-box athletic stores.
And something is not a "deal" when it is not right for you, even if you can pay less for it at a big-box store.
Here are four of those reasons.
1.
Knowledge Specialty stores for runners and walkers usually are owned, operated, and staffed by runners and walkers.
It is simply too difficult for these stores to succeed otherwise.
They must have a passion for what they are selling because what runners and walkers buy can often be very technical, and the only way to maintain for years an interest in these goods is to have a passion for running or walking.
2.
Advice With that running or walking experience and knowledge comes expertise that you can leverage as a runner or walker to get the most up-to-date advice about what to buy to serve your training and racing needs.
Try getting good advice from a fresh-off-the-street salesperson at a big-box athletic store.
Even if one salesperson were an experienced runner or walker, what is the likelihood that all of the salespeople at a big-box store would be as knowledgeable as him or her? Beyond this, specialty stores usually pay for more specialized training of their salespeople than do the mass-market retailers of athletic goods.
3.
Convenience Open early in the morning to late in the evening, or even twenty-four hours a day, big-box athletic stores can be more convenient than specialty stores when it comes to store hours.
But convenience is not just about store hours.
If your running or walking training group regularly meets at a specialty store, it can be a lot more convenient to shop there than at a big-box store.
Some specialty stores even open their doors early when affiliated training groups meet outside their doors.
And some specialty stores will host after-hours events for training groups and have salespeople present to sells goods to group members.
Another form of convenience is the availability of special products.
Specialty stores are more likely to carry and have those items in stock than are big-bog athletic stores.
And who loves to make multiple trips to a store to buy something? Would you rather be on the road training or driving back and forth to get that special shoe or jersey that you really want? 4.
Price This reason may surprise you.
But specialty stores are often price-competitive with big-box athletic stores.
And something is not a "deal" when it is not right for you, even if you can pay less for it at a big-box store.
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