Fleet Feet Honors Franchises at National Franchise Conference

Fleet Feet, Incorporated, the nation’s leading franchisor of running specialty stores, honored the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of its franchisees and store employees during its annual National Franchise Conference, hosted in St. Louis, Missouri, June 22-27.

Franchise owners and employees from across the 128-store system and representatives of more than 80 industry vendors gathered for a week focused on business planning, networking, and a trade show designed exclusively for Fleet Feet Sports franchisees.  Attendees also had the opportunity to choose from more than 50 classes over two days taught by a combination of Fleet Feet, Incorporated staff, franchisees, store employees, vendors and outside consultants. Education focused on the customer experience, fit, financial and inventory management, people development, and community outreach with the consistent theme of continuing to evolve and improve in every facet of the brand.

“This week we rolled out Experience 2.0 to our franchisees and key vendors. Experience 2.0 is long term strategic approach to evolving and sometimes reinventing the Fleet Feet Sports experience to meet the new expectations of our customers while remaining fiercely committed to who we are and what got us here,” said Fleet Feet, Incorporated President and CEO Jeff Phillips.  “This approach encompasses our omni-channel strategy and will allow Fleet Feet Sports to move the brand forward as the undisputed industry leader.”

As part of the event, Fleet Feet, Incorporated honored its franchise owners and store employees during its annual Brand Banquet.  

FITlanthropy Grants

The company awarded grants to six stores on behalf of its major vendor partners. FITlanthropy Grants support the stores’ charitable contributions at the local level.  Grants were awarded as follows:

• Brooks Sports and Moving Comfort awarded Fleet Feet Sports Mt. Pleasant, SC a grant for Support the Girls. This grant will help provide sports bras for young women in the JROTC in the Charleston County School District, many of whom are in high poverty, Title One schools. Having a good sports bra not only provides support but also comfort to these young ladies, encouraging them and giving them confidence to lead an active lifestyle.
• Balega International awarded a grant to Fleet Feet Sports Winston-Salem, NC for Mission: Feet First. This mission distributes properly fitted footwear, insoles and socks to homeless and under-privileged children and families. Since 2010, Mission: Feet First has provided these items to more than 1,500 individuals. Through personalized shoe fittings and interactions, low income veterans, homeless, children and others in need are able to accomplish their goals.
• Saucony awarded Fleet Feet Sports Nashville, TN a grant to continue to support Amputee Blade Runners. The grant will allow Fleet Feet Sports Nashville to help ABR team members realize their dreams of competing in the Endeavor Games.  The Endeavor Games is a nationally-recognized competition that allows athletes with physical disabilities to participate in a multi-sport event. Training, travel costs and entry fees will be partially covered with this grant.
• New Balance awarded Fleet Feet Sports West Hartford and Fleet Feet Sports Stamford, CT for their partnership and support of the local Achilles International chapter, a hospital for special care and hanger prosthetics. This group assists athletes with disabilities that have prevented them from taking part in athletic events like running and triathlons. Fleet Feet Sports West Hartford and Stamford partnered together to provide support that goes beyond financial needs including coaches, training partners and race guides.
• Nike awarded Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa, OK a grant for Zoomerangs, their youth running program in north Tulsa. For the past three years they have provided a structured youth running program for children without access to such activities. With the help of passionate coaches, this program motivates and builds self-confidence and will expand to additional area schools with the aid of this grant.
• Superfeet awarded Fleet Feet Sports Spokane, WA a grant for their involvement with Active4Youth. This organization is a free, district-wide, elementary cross country running program, offered in collaboration with Spokane Public Schools. In addition to providing water stops, footwear, and outfitting coaches, these funds will be used to increase the number of coaching stipends, thereby increasing the number of children able to participate in the program.

Anniversaries

The following stores were recognized for reaching milestones of 10 and 30 years in business: