Fleet Feet Inc., the parent of the Fleet Fleet Sports franchise, reported sales increased 8.4 percent in 2011, to $116 million from $107 million a year ago.
The figures were included in a year-end report sent to partners.
'While we've never used numbers as the sole measure of value, the 9 percent increase in retail sales is a mile market that speaks volumes to the efforts of our franchises,” said Jeff Phillips, president,
The gains were boosted by the opening of three new franchised operations in Pepper Pike, OH; Virginia Beach, VA; and Rochester, NY.
Nine locations underwent expansions: Carrboro, NC; Columbia, SC; Encino, CA; Hartford, CT; Louisville, KY; Orlando, FL; Pleasanton, CA; Raleigh, CN and Stockton, CA. The Carrboro store marked the creation of the chains' first flagship location and is expected to serve as a training ground for future owners and vehicle to help vendors better understand Fleet Feet's culture.
Seven franchises underwent ownership changes: Jackson, MS; Brentwood, TN; Aptos, CA; Columbia, SC; San Antonio, TX; Sarasota, FL; and Elmhurst, IL.
Fleet Feet noted that in 2011 it created an online education platform designed to help new employees gain insight into its culture, understand its business, and learn about the science behind its FIT process. It also updated the Fleet Feet Inc. website and created a corresponding store template to give franchises the opportunity to customize their sites, making them more user-friendly and easier to locate while simplifying the integration of social media programs.
Fleet Feet also said its training programs saw 40,000 participants, an increase of 40 percent from 2010 to 2011.
