Triathlon - Starting a Tri store

Just curious, has anyone thought of doing this? How many athletes (triathlon, runners, bikers, swimmers) do you think it would take to support a store? What services would you expect -even from a start-up? How much on-hand inventory? Those types of questions.

Reason I ask is that my family is considering moving and we have long desired to own a small business. The community we would like to move to does not have a tri store or anything similar for a population of 50,000 and a University population of 15-20,000. It sits in-between two major cities, both about an hour to hour 1/2 away. There is only one official triathlon competed in the community (four years old).

Any thoughts, suggestions, financial donations.

Thanks.

My immediate business model would include business relationships with the local universities who have track and field teams. I would also think a full pro fit for both Road and Tri set ups. In terms of inventory and stock, cycling shorts and bibs go a long way especially if you have a gym near by with a spin class, jersey's are a dime a dozen, the normal nutritional products. There's plenty more...

if i were you, i would open up as a high end bike shop that also sells tri stuff. definitely sponsor the university.

in our town we have a pretty successful bike shop that mainly sells high end road bikes and they have cornered the market on the tri sports which i think has helped them out. i don't think tri equipment alone will support a store unless it is a big city but if you truely promote the lifestyle and sell biking rather than push bikes out the door you will be successful. this shop had almost daily organized rides and is very involved in supporting the tri races in the area. they sell cervelo pinarello colnago cannondale bikes. stock zipp wheels reynolds wheels and some others too.

in our town we have a pretty successful bike shop that mainly sells high end road bikes and they have cornered the market on the tri sports which i think has helped them out. i don't think tri equipment alone will support a store unless it is a big city but if you truely promote the lifestyle and sell biking rather than push bikes out the door you will be successful. this shop had almost daily organized rides and is very involved in supporting the tri races in the area. they sell cervelo pinarello colnago cannondale bikes. stock zipp wheels reynolds wheels and some others too.

ONLY reason I'm butting in here, not being a Tri Athelete is because a young man here in my town fits precisely your account.

It's a fairly new, very large store selling Specialized, the entire line icluding the gear, Raleigh,some, Cervelo and a few Gunners. This owner is all of 38 or so. He has a small repair facility. The store is within a huge shopping complex.

Rather than being a typical boss-like owner, all get a free hand. He's more often than not tending to Tri clients; setting-up bikes, fit or just chatting. By his own account he findes that end of the buss. most rewarding in more than one way.

It seems to me that his being able to focus on that which he's fond of, he sets a very possitive tone. This is characteristic in any store. In my own store (non-bike) managing exp., to have something other than pedestrian, everyday sell, sell, sell aspects, things stay fresh and grade less on ones nerves. It never hurts to realize other satisfaction when the sales volume is weak.

I think that the OP's onto something. Riders drive over 100 mlies to visit him, he's an athelete himself. My sense is that clients are more than happy to have his service. The shop's within a short distance of a major State Univ., other schools as well, haven't notice much of that though. I do believe a shop can small as well. I've patronized one very small shop in particular, going head to head with monsters. Though it wasn't in a racing realm, he too satisfied a niche that appealed to me; sensible, not overly huge inventory that focused on the "best" models by any given Co. He stocked only 2 at times 3 incomplete lines.

I also was a landlord to an LBS, saw it go through 3 different ownerships, to use that as a comparison. All about attitude and expectations.

That university is a valuable resource. The students may not be able to purchase the high end bikes, but they do like to dabble in tri sports.

Here in my neck of the woods, there were a few students from University of Calif Irvine who got together and opened up a tri store. First, was the internet, then came the store. So Calif is a bigger market than say, Tennessee. Try their web site for an example of how to open a store in a cost effective manner: http://www.onetri.com/contact_us.php


UCLA has an annual fund raiser and approx 500 entries for their event which takes place within their campus. They have an olympic size pool and the bike portion is 4 laps the perimeter of the campus. Check out their site.

Thanks for all the information so far...please keep it coming.

Here is a little more on the area I am considering. The University nor the four high schools in the immediate area have triathlon teams although the University has a club of 35-50. This University has very strong swimming and running programs as do a couple of the high schools. The one triathlon event in the area pulled in about 250 participants from the immediate community and some of the surrounding counties.

So, there is not a huge triathlon population there but it is growing. There is only one bike shop in town and it does not carry triathlon gear meaning anyone wanting to get anything would have to go to one of the larger cities an hour+ away or get it on-line.

I do like the webiste as a starter idea but I would also really like to have a store-front. Clearly I would love to sponsor races and maybe eventually a team but to start off I just want to get a business going. I have never started, owned or run a business so this would be a new endeavor for me but I really enjoy the multisport lifestyle and would love to promote it and if at all possible make a living by doing so.

Again, any additional help or information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Fred

A tri store typically does not attract bike riders. Swimmers, the young ones, get what their parent's, usually mom's, buy for them. They don't go to tri stores. Runners won't typically go to a tri store for shoes and stuff.

So if you're thinking there's some kind of cross over that you can capitalize on, think again. Try this link at a local tri store near me. Notice the different stuff and bikes they offer, not the typical bike shop choices.

http://www.triathlonlab.com/

I totally agree with what you are stating. My thinking is that if there were a store in the area and a few more events closer by then some of those athletes might consider triathlon as a new or additional sport. I know most of them will continue to buy stuff at chain stores and that is fine.

I just hate that in my area I have to go to a store 30 miles away to get a pair of Yankz because the one two miles away doesn't carry them. Same with anti-fog spray. I know no store can be all things to all people but this area (not where I live but the one I am considering opening) could use one and I think would support one if done right and run well. I have a very cheerful personality and enjoy enteracting with people. Would I make a good business owner...not sure, but I really would like to give it a shot.

Thanks for that link. Any others would be great.

Thanks,

Fred

If you open it in knoxville i will move there and work for you!!!!!!!!!!!I love east tn.!

I don't think you have a big enough base to support a store. I live in the DC area. There are maybe four stores carrying tri equipment and two are the same store in different states. Those two seem to be thriving but the big sales are high end road bikes - Cervelo, Wilier, Specialized, Cannondale, Fondriest, Pinnarello, etc. Another store in Va draws almost exclusively from tri aprticipants. They also have a running store connected to them and sell/rent wetsuits. These stores draw from a population of around 5,000,000 in a very affluent area.

They also carry a large stock of bikes for people to test ride. If you don't offer that, you will be competiting with internet and mail order sources.

I hear ya and I agree that it is not a large population in order to pull from. Here are some stats from the area I am looking at:

University - 15-20,000
Primary county - 106,000
Surrounding counties - 130,000

Total - 251-256,000

Within easy driving distance there are another 5 certified triathlon events (not including those closer to the two larger cities) and a bunch of local events. The larger communities nearby have triathlon clubs so I do think there is enough of a support base for a store. It may not be a huge money-maker but I think there would be enough support. Obviously I would do some more in-depth research before I start up.

The bike test would be included. I think that is a must for anyone to get a real feel for what they are about to drop $1000's on. I also think that I would have wetsuits for rentals.

What do ya'll think about a repair shop within the store...is it a must or a hassle? What about putting on rides/runs/clinics/etc?

Thanks,

Fred

You MUST have a repair shop and clinics,rides,runs to survive.Besides its fun!Also alot of the shops out here have tri packages which include a bike,helmet,running shoes and a wetsuit for under 1300-1900 depending on the level of the goods.

in our town we have a pretty successful bike shop that mainly sells high end road bikes and they have cornered the market on the tri sports which i think has helped them out. i don't think tri equipment alone will support a store unless it is a big city but if you truely promote the lifestyle and sell biking rather than push bikes out the door you will be successful. this shop had almost daily organized rides and is very involved in supporting the tri races in the area. they sell cervelo pinarello colnago cannondale bikes. stock zipp wheels reynolds wheels and some others too.

I've played Rugby for years. In the U.S. as far as I know there are no Rugby gear stores, except for ones which also have an online business, or if you go back a couple of decades ones that made it to major tournaments and did mail order. The major local soccer store stocks soem Rugby gear and makes fair part of their money doing silkscreening. I'm sure that started with team jerseys, but it now is a major part of their business outside of soccer.

A Tri store has a very limited customer base.