Coming off a record-setting 2011, the Sports, Inc. Athletics Division started 2012 on a positive note by adding five new dealers to the membership. T&T Sporting Goods (Columbia, SC), Cascade Athletic Supply (Medford, OR), and Matty’s Sports (Miami, FL) became official members in January, while Locker Room Sports (Lewisville, TX) and Cleats (Glendale, AZ), joined the ranks of the nation's largest team dealer buying group in February.
“We are very happy to call these five dealers Sports, Inc. members,” said Travis Elam, Sports, Inc. marketing director. “We are fortunate to have over 200 strong athletic retailers and team dealers from coast to coast who have weathered the current economic climate, and many of them are thriving and growing. To add five quality independent dealers like these to our membership is a great way to start the year.”
In 2011, Sports, Inc. recorded the highest sales volume in its 46-year history with strong growth in both the Athletics and Outdoor Divisions. The Athletics Division was up over 13 percent vs. 2010 as the nation’s largest network of team dealers remained at the forefront of servicing teams, schools, leagues and coaches at all levels. Sports, Inc. team dealers have over 1,400 sales professionals, including over 650 sales people on the road, generating close to three-quarters of a billion dollars in sales annually.
Additional new members are expected in the coming months leading into the Sports, Inc. summer Athletic Show in June. The 2012 summer show will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis and will represent the single largest gathering of team dealers and manufacturers in the nation. Approximately 600 buyers from 200 member dealers are expected to converge on Indianapolis to do business with roughly 130 suppliers.
ABOUT T&T SPORTING GOODS COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
T&T Sporting Goods in Columbia has been a fixture in the team business for generations in South Carolina. Presently owned by Carter Ellis, T&T Sporting Goods was founded in the 1940s and is still thriving. A family owned business from the very beginning, T&T Sporting Goods is known as a first class dealer throughout their territory and beyond.
ABOUT CASCADE ATHLETIC SUPPLY MEDFORD, OREGON
Cascade Athletic Supply was founded in 1971 by John Gregg, who still owns and operates the business with his son Jim. With a mix of retail and team as well as screen print and embroidery facilities, Cascade Athletic Supply serves schools throughout western Oregon and northern California and is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier independent team dealers.
ABOUT MATTY’S SPORTS MIAMI, FLORIDA
Matty’s Sports has been servicing teams in south Florida for over 30 years. From uniforms and equipment to decoration and corporate sales, owner Matty Wilkins and his team serve a wide array of customers. With in-house screen printing, embroidering and sublimation, Matty’s is a one-stop shop for teams of all levels in south Florida.
ABOUT LOCKER ROOM SPORTS LEWISVILLE, TEXAS
Locker Room Sports was started in 2008 by co-owners Steve Cross, David Jones and Scott Boyd. The three owners brought a variety of skills from other industries to the sporting goods industry in the Dallas, Texas area. Focused primarily on institutional and league business, Locker Room Sports has grown quickly over the last three years, earning a reputation for customer service.
ABOUT CLEATS GLENDALE, ARIZONA
Cleats was founded in 2002 by Curt Cress. In the past ten years, Cleats has grown into one of the premier independent athletic dealers in the Phoenix area. Cleats combines a growing team business with a top notch retail presence. In addition to sales of athletic uniforms and equipment, Cleats features a first class decoration shop that allows them to deliver quality products on short turnaround times.
Sports, Inc. is a national sporting goods buying group with over 400 members and 550 store locations in 50 states. Sports, Inc. was established in 1965 and is headquartered in Lewistown, Mont. The Sports, Inc. Athletics Division consists of over 200 team dealers and an additional 35 athletic / full line retailers.
