footsloggers closes

[Dmanuhone]

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/main_str ... 0f120.html

[BTK2000]

I always thought they were the better outdoors store downtown. Staff knew what they were talking about and always pointed me In the right direction. I wondered how much competition there was between them and mast. College kids are cheap and not good to rely on for business.

Barefoot opens and closes pretty quick and now this. Is king street not doing as well as we imagine outside of resteraunts and bars?

[ASUPATCH]

Having ran a retail store on King St that closed its doors I can tell you it's not good. Game day Saturdays and 4th of July comprised about 5-10% of annual sales. Students can't afford retail stores and locals don't shop downtown. Even if they did, parking as we all know is less than stellar. Love Boone, but would never attempt to own a business in downtown.

[8993]

As much as I loved Footsloggers, I always felt they were a little on the pricey side. While camping and hiking supplies are never cheap, the business never seemed to cater to college students or the average customer, but more so the higher-end tourists or hardcore outdoorsmen. I also think that they were facing a lot of competition from the likes of both Mast General Stores (Boone and Valle Crucis) and online shopping, where you can get most of the products that they sold there for cheaper.

While I hate to see any local business go, I would love to see a new discount outdoors shop open there, one in which underused equipment can be resold or cleaned up for a good price. That would likely pull in more of the locals and college kids than an expensive store would. From what I can gather, college kids are swaying away from name brands now in favor of thrift stores and Goodwills. Much of the High Country also lives below the poverty line, so a cheaper equipment and outdoor clothing store would go a long way in a town like Boone. If Goodwill prices and gently used (or even worn in!) Footsloggers products had a child, it'd be a hit in Boone.

[Gonzo]

College students buy Eno Hammocks and Chaco's online.

I can't believe they lasted this long.

[JonW]

Not to mention that students have the ability to rent, inexpensively at that, outdoor gear from the SRC. Renting is a step down from buying high-quality gear sold at Footsloggers, but you weren't as upset when something broke or tore on a trail. Sad to see this store go, but I do not know how it could have stayed in business for much longer given the location and local competition.

[NO.2]

I would love to see a new discount outdoors shop open there, one in which underused equipment can be resold or cleaned up for a good price.

A store like this already exists next to Fat Cats & Cornbread Tactical, it is called ReGear. Just this past summer I purchased a self-inflating sleeping pad that could have easily passed for "Brand New in Box" for around 35% of full retail.

I'm an avid camper/hiker during the warmer month and I used to buy some of my gear at Footsloggers and Mast when they had decent discounts through High Country Local First. Once they dropped those I took most of my gear shopping back to REI where the staff is actually knowledgeable and not interested in selling me a $300 cooler and pastel t-shirt covered in bow ties and mason jars.

I like to support local businesses as much as I can (Recess is awesome!) but Footsloggers just didn't do it well enough for me.

[NoLongerLurking]

The real question is, what were they laundering money for through the guise of that place?

[NewApp]

I would love to see a new discount outdoors shop open there, one in which underused equipment can be resold or cleaned up for a good price.

A store like this already exists next to Fat Cats & Cornbread Tactical, it is called ReGear. Just this past summer I purchased a self-inflating sleeping pad that could have easily passed for "Brand New in Box" for around 35% of full retail.

I'm an avid camper/hiker during the warmer month and I used to buy some of my gear at Footsloggers and Mast when they had decent discounts through High Country Local First. Once they dropped those I took most of my gear shopping back to REI where the staff is actually knowledgeable and not interested in selling me a $300 cooler and pastel t-shirt covered in bow ties and mason jars.

I like to support local businesses as much as I can (Recess is awesome!) but Footsloggers just didn't do it well enough for me.

How does a self inflating sleeping pad work? What inflates it?

[NO.2]

I would love to see a new discount outdoors shop open there, one in which underused equipment can be resold or cleaned up for a good price.

A store like this already exists next to Fat Cats & Cornbread Tactical, it is called ReGear. Just this past summer I purchased a self-inflating sleeping pad that could have easily passed for "Brand New in Box" for around 35% of full retail.

I'm an avid camper/hiker during the warmer month and I used to buy some of my gear at Footsloggers and Mast when they had decent discounts through High Country Local First. Once they dropped those I took most of my gear shopping back to REI where the staff is actually knowledgeable and not interested in selling me a $300 cooler and pastel t-shirt covered in bow ties and mason jars.

I like to support local businesses as much as I can (Recess is awesome!) but Footsloggers just didn't do it well enough for me.

How does a self inflating sleeping pad work? What inflates it?

For all intents and purposes, it's an "air sponge" that is contained inside of a durable liner with a valve. When the pad is deflated and you open the valve and the membrane on the inside expands and takes in air. They will actually self inflate if given enough time, but one generally has to blow into the valve to achieve full inflation.