Local sporting goods stores holding up

Found this on another forum. Thought it was good as it is promoting GB![:D]

Local sporting goods stores holding up against big boys
BY LEIA BAEZ
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Guns Unlimited owner Tom Nichols believes the Omaha-Council Bluffs area has too many sporting goods stores, but he is doing whatever it takes to make sure that if one closes, it's not his.
Despite an influx of huge sporting goods stores in the Omaha area, Rick Canfield says his Canfield's store is doing fine. "A smart store finds other areas to survive in, and that's what we have done," he said."We are doing everything we can to keep our customers coming out," Nichols said of his store at 4325 S. 120th St. "You've got to find different ways to do business."

Nichols predicted in 2005 that the arrival of Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops would force one of the area's existing stores to close.

"I still believe it's going to be very difficult for everyone to survive, because the market is not that big," Nichols said Monday.

But Nichols and a sampling of other merchants said they have found ways to compete with the big chains and had solid holiday sales.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for a national sporting goods association said the danger period has passed for smaller stores.

Nichols said he has begun advertising nationally and selling at gun shows and on Web sites such as GunBroker.com and eBay.

"Business through the holidays was up overall, but our retail store sales were down 15 percent," he said.

Mike May, spokesman for the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in Washington D.C., said he doesn't know of any instances in which Bass Pro or Cabela's put other retailers out of business.

"If that were the case in Omaha, those stores would have already closed," May said. "The fact that stores are still there is a good sign they are selling. If there was a problem they would have relocated or closed up shop."

Bass Pro opened in Council Bluffs in November 2005. Cabela's Sarpy County store just off Interstate 80 opened in November 2006.

Rick Canfield, owner of Canfield's at 8457 West Center Road, said Omaha has four to five times more retail space devoted to fishing and hunting than it had five years ago.

"If you don't have good customer service or other areas you service well, you are going to be out of business," he said. "There probably isn't room for everybody. A smart store finds other areas to survive in, and that's what we have done."

Canfield said well-stocked outdoor, camping and work-wear departments keep his customers returning.

"What we would lose in fishing and hunting, we've made up in other areas," he said. "We have been able to weather the storm. We have learned to find other avenues to expand. I can guarantee we are not closing."

Canfield's holiday season was good, despite warm weather in December, Canfield said. He credits his knowledgeable staff and customer service for maintaining his clientele over the years.

David Jacobs, one of the owners of Angler's Supply Co. at 4736 S. 72nd St., said his holiday sales were down slightly because of warm temperatures.

But he believes the big chains also are affecting his business.

"The opening of Cabela's, plus Scheels and Bass Pro has affected everyone," Jacobs said.

Like Nichols at Guns Unlimited, Jacobs believes the market is overly saturated.

"Whenever there is some new thing, people are going to gravitate to what's new," he said. "It's only natural that the newest retailer will get a lot of business."

Jacobs said he relies on products and services unique to his store.

"We sell a lot of live bait, we do repair work and we offer a high level of experience since (we opened in) 1997," he said.

Jacobs said he sells customers what they need, not what is most expensive.

Revenue at Cabela's Inc. topped $2 billion for the first time last year, increasing 14.7 percent from 2005. Profits rose 18.2 percent to $85.79 million.

Although Cabela's does not release earnings per store, John Castillo, spokesman for the company, said the holiday season at the La Vista location was successful.

"We had a very good holiday season," he said. "The new location was very well received."

Castillo said Cabela's hasn't hurt competing businesses in other markets. In southern Minnesota, for example, Cabela's employees often refer customers to a locally owned gun shop, Castillo said.

"We have been able to send (that store) business and raise awareness of outdoor and shooting sports. Cabela's coming into a city enhances the outdoor participation, and everybody benefits from that."

A spokesman for Scheels, which is privately owned, declined to give sales figures but said the company was pleased with the holiday season. A spokesman for Dick's Sporting Goods, which will release its fourth-quarter earnings in March, declined to comment.

Bass Pro Shops does not release earnings because it is a privately held company, but the Council Bluffs store has done well, said Larry Whiteley, manager of corporate public relations.

"We had a very good season, and we are very pleased," Whiteley said.

Small, locally owned stores should take advantage of the outdoor enthusiasts whom Bass Pro attracts, he said. "For those that think they are in trouble, it (Bass Pro) will actually help them."

May, from the sporting goods association, said larger stores often bring more people to an area, which can benefit locally owned businesses.

"Not everybody likes a superstore," May said. "Some people prefer a local business than a national conglomerate."


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