Would a Running / Tri shop survive in Limerick

--amadeus--

This kind of sparked from teh other thread...

Cork has Buckleys, Dublin has Runways and Amphibian King. Pretty much every decent sized town in teh UK has a running shop. But there is nothing in Limerick.

We don't have many races locally here but there are huge numbers of runners on teh streets. I'm thinking there might be a niche there for someone; a shop that covers all of a runner / triathletes needs in one space.

For runners you could do gait analysis and have a range of trainers. You would of course carry a full range of running kit but also teh other odds and sods - gels, carb loading drinks, bottles and bottle belts for example. And at the higher end you could carry sports watches, GPS, HRM and the like.

For tri you would also have wetsuits and possibly bikes as well as all teh wierd gunk that you lot are into - bodyglide and teh like. Goggles, swimwear and what have you.

You could also carry equipment - treadmills and turbos as well as all the strange performance and training enhancing stuff that hangs off bikes ()

Pros - retail space is dirt cheap at the moment and a good shop will get people travelling to it. People are still running (and spending) despite teh downturn and the range of goods goes from cheap (a euro for a gel) through mid price (trainers, watches) and up to high end (bikes, treadies). And tehre isn't a dedicated space in teh mid-west for this.

Cons - Limerick is well served by general sports shops and there are a number of specialist outlets. For running there is teh excellent Limerick Sports Shop, there are a couple of bike shops and a few surfy places that sell wetsuits. And while people are spending are there enough of them in Limerick / the mid west to make it viable?

Just kicking an idea around - anyone any thoughts?

LambDave

I think you could be onto something here.

While you are right about the fact that Limerick has a good coverage of general sports shops, a specialist shop would be an idea.

Surely theres some market there at least but you'd have to make sure that you were able to compete price-wise with Limerick Sports Store. When I was living in the area thats where I used to go for running gear.

When you think about it though, it sounds viable:
Youve got a track in UL, a well supported womens mini marathon, 10k road race, good triathlon scene, and a good few athletics clubs in the area.

HardyEustace

I know it's a bit of an aside but I honestly think that if someone opened a shop like decathlon where you can get decent running and sporting gear at a reasonable price that they'd do very well.

I really like supporting local shops and local businesses however some take the p*ss altogether.

When I was in France recently was able to buy a few pairs of swimming togs in decathlon - racer back, good quality lycra, lined. Cost = €11

If was to buy the equivalent in a sports shop in Galway you'd be talking at least €30. Now some might argue it's because you're buying a "branded" item rather than a generic one. But to be honest, I don't care, I'll happily buy generic if the quality is good.

I spent a couple of hundred in decathlon. I'd much prefer to spend it in Ireland but I think that most shops here are an utter rip off.

If you have a shop, with an online service, that sells good quality, reasonable value items then I think you'd do well.

MCOS

HardyEustace wrote: »

I spent a couple of hundred in decathlon. I'd much prefer to spend it in Ireland but I think that most shops here are an utter rip off..

True. Limerick SS and Gleesons are the 2 main general sports equipment stores with a bit of internal expertise however the mark up is ridiculous.

HardyEustace wrote: »

If you have a shop, with an online service, that sells good quality, reasonable value items then I think you'd do well.

Definitely a niche for it with the growth of running and Tri in this country. Symbiotic relationships with local clubs and perhaps the Arena, instore gait/nutritional/shoe/bike advice etc... coached/professional/friendly/highly passionate and knowledgeable staff. Sponsor local athletes... etc...

I was at a training weekend recently with one of our Pros and to be honest if he had recommended a local store to go and get my gait checked, bike fitted, cheap short etc... 30 odd people would have been there browsing within a week

Lifestyle sports took a bunch of staff up to Dublin for a day to teach them about shoes etc.. leading up to the DM last year. I went to the shop around August and although the teen staff member's knowledge was a bit ropey around the cushioning/stability aspect of the shoes he was trying to sell, there was something endearing about his enthusiasm.. as he relayed what he had learned the previous week to me with the shoe in his hand I noticed about 10 other people listening in...

Yes a niche for sure and a name that could grow rapidly if nurtured and fed correctly.

richiemack

Im from Galway and would definitely travel down to Limerick to buy tri and running specific gear, gait analysis and other services would bring folk down that don't want to go to Dublin

limerickleader

Do you not think that, when compared with other provincial cities like Cork and Galway, running is a bit of an endangered species in Limerick, at least at club level?

At adult level, there are Limerick AC, West Limerick, Dooneen, Country Club and Bilboa. If you were to add up all the club runners, would you reach 50? There's also nowhere near as many races in Limerick.

Would there be enough potential customers in the Midwest who would be sufficiently aware of specialist running gear (and be willing to travel into Limerick City and shell out for it) to support a running shop? I just can't see it.

Plus - I've always liked Limk Sports Store. In fairness to Siobhan, Christy and the gang, they know their stuff!

Genghis

HardyEustace wrote: »

I know it's a bit of an aside but I honestly think that if someone opened a shop like decathlon where you can get decent running and sporting gear at a reasonable price that they'd do very well.

I really like supporting local shops and local businesses however some take the p*ss altogether.

When I was in France recently was able to buy a few pairs of swimming togs in decathlon - racer back, good quality lycra, lined. Cost = €11

If was to buy the equivalent in a sports shop in Galway you'd be talking at least €30. Now some might argue it's because you're buying a "branded" item rather than a generic one. But to be honest, I don't care, I'll happily buy generic if the quality is good.

I spent a couple of hundred in decathlon. I'd much prefer to spend it in Ireland but I think that most shops here are an utter rip off.

If you have a shop, with an online service, that sells good quality, reasonable value items then I think you'd do well.

I'm with you on this one. I buy practically all my gear except for runners and bike parts from Decathlon. I usually buy once every 12-18 months, every time I am near one of their stores (France, UK, Spain, Portugal). I might spend €300 in a visit, but I won't spend another cent on gear elsewhere until I am back.

The trouble with 95% of sports stores here is that they are really fashion outlets selling high-priced, branded goods and sports merchandise which are purchased and worn as casual wear.

They do not really cater for sports participants, and they are so dominant that they make it difficult for specialist stores.

Its different to the UK where you do have specialist running stores in every small city - places like Sweatshop, TriAndRun, Up and Running are chains that offer specialist goods and advice, and I have no reason to think that if Limerick were in the UK that you wouldn't have one or two of these successfully operating there.

buck65

limerickleader wrote: »

Do you not think that, when compared with other provincial cities like Cork and Galway, running is a bit of an endangered species in Limerick, at least at club level?

At adult level, there are Limerick AC, West Limerick, Dooneen, Country Club and Bilboa. If you were to add up all the club runners, would you reach 50? There's also nowhere near as many races in Limerick.

Would there be enough potential customers in the Midwest who would be sufficiently aware of specialist running gear (and be willing to travel into Limerick City and shell out for it) to support a running shop? I just can't see it.

Plus - I've always liked Limk Sports Store. In fairness to Siobhan, Christy and the gang, they know their stuff!

Limerick maybe down in numbers but there is a little county to the west of it that is gone bananas for running!
The Clare 10k Race will attract over a 1000 people with many of them local and many of them newish to running who really have no idea where to buy gear. The local shops are a joke in Ennis, with prices 10-15 euro more than Limerick for the same shoe. Plus people are either A - buying the most expensive shoe because a salesperson pushed them or woefully inadequate shoes that don't do the job.
I reckon if you set up a stand offering gait analysis etc at this race you would sell 100 pairs in a day.
Also a charity group called the Clare crusaders set up by the late Howard Flannery a few years back has aprox 100 members. You would have seen them in some races in the orange t shirts. Massive potential here in Clare.
I was in the fair green track the other night in town and there were aprox 20 women doing laps together - all levels of fitness.
I would seriously be aiming at these groups. Actually I'm off to Dragons Den anyone else coming?
A new tri club was set up this year in Ennis and 45 people came to the first meeting.

asimonov

Devils advocate here...

The idea of a specialist shop in limerick may well work but one of the bigger mistakes made with business start ups is mixing up "things i'd like to see" with "things that would make a good business". Whilst the concept might be good in general, you'd have to consider how you would be able to generate footfall and business on a tuesday in november for example, when you still have your overhead to meet. Independent retail as a business is easy to get into but can be hard to either scale up or exit.

Maybe a more interesting opportunity might be in online retailing that would combine the shared interest and advice aspect of something like this forum with community buying power to offer better choice and value. This is might work internationally but would be important in ireland where distributors seem to hold so much influence. Maybe the community themselves would become the retailer - a place to come to get advice, product and value through buying power....

just a thought.

Sub430

buck65 wrote: »

I reckon if you set up a stand offering gait analysis etc at this race you would sell 100 pairs in a day.

The reason people go to places like AK and other stores that provide gait analysis is the attention to detail and the time spent with the client. If you estimate time spent to be a half an hour per person, just to carry out the analysis on 100 people would 33.33333333333333 hours :eek:

It's a no from me, I'm out. :P

I agree local running shops would be of great benefit, I'm in Tullamore but travelled to AK in Bray to get the gait analysis done. The thing is now that I know what shoes suit me I will more than likely buy online for cost savings and also convenience so repeat buying at the new store may be restricted if others think like me.

On another note anyone hear of trizone in Athlone? Looks like they do gait analysis - handy for anyone in the surrounding areas who don't want to travel to the big schmoke. (no connection with them just found it when googling specialist running stores)

--amadeus--

Interesting food for thought there...

LSS is fantastic and Siobhan really does know her stuff. But it's still a general sports shop with limited space. I know that Lim city itself doesn't have a huge competitive running scene but take a drive round teh suburbs any evening and you'll see loads (and loads) of runners out there. And Limerick Tri club is pretty big. If you located teh shop right (one of teh many retail parks around town and with good links to Clare and Galway) and marketed smartly (sponsoring local clubs and races) you'd generate footfall. It's weither that footfall would be profitable enough or if people would come in, try it out and buy the same gear online.

Which leads to online retail... It is a good idea but it's a very (very) crowded market place there. Lots of unemployed techies here to get it up and running (boom boom!) but much harder (and more expensive) to market.

HardyEustace

And to be honest, I know that lots of people claim that they'll use a local shop but I think that while you'll use it the first few times and you need advice, ultimately you'll go on-line where you can get things at a cheaper price.

Decathlon would do well though. However, I just think that if it opened here it would be at inflated prices. Look at Zara over here, it costs a FORTUNE in comparison to spain.

hunnymonster

--amadeus-- wrote: »

.... take a drive round teh suburbs any evening and you'll see loads (and loads) of runners out there.....

I have to say, it's something that strikes me everytime I visit Limerick. Everyone seems to be out running. Mind you most of them are in munster jerseys so I'm not sure if this post is best suited here of the matching gear thread....

asimonov

You're totally right the online market is crowded and busy (and i have to say from a customer POV a little confusing) lots of retailers with limited difference.

Truth be told. If anyone wants any product at any time - they can get it, either from a high street or online. There is not really a shortage of supply. I think at this stage a new business needs to offer value (like decathalon do) or offer added value.

There are three waves to surf here (sorry to mix my sports)
- the use of technology to service niche sectors profitably.
- the rise in participation of sports like tri, ultra, hill and endurance etc
- the growth (and power) of online communities

With a lot of work and a bit of money, there's a business in there somewhere....

Stupid_Private

hunnymonster wrote: »

I have to say, it's something that strikes me everytime I visit Limerick. Everyone seems to be out running. Mind you most of them are in munster jerseys so I'm not sure if this post is best suited here of the matching gear thread....

I counted over 20 people along the canal in Dublin yesterday, running by themselves, in just over a one mile stretch...

mitresize5

I think you could be on a runner there (pardon the pun)

The amount of people out running, cycling and generally keeping fit has exploded in the Mid West in the last few years.

With the economy the way it is its seems lots of people are spending their free time getting fit rather than in the pub, you'd also be in a very strong position regarding retail space and sale or return with suppliers.

Again though price would be key for most.

edit: Irish Fit in Dun Laorighe seem to be doing a good job of mixing shop (a basement) and online business so I cant see any reason why the same model couldnt work in Limerick. Good luck with it if you give it a go

pgibbo

richiemack wrote: »

Im from Galway and would definitely travel down to Limerick to buy tri and running specific gear, gait analysis and other services would bring folk down that don't want to go to Dublin

+1 on that. Nigels in Galway does some tri gear but I think a specialized shop in the Mid-West region could do really well.

MarieC

I thought of this thread on friday.

Feet First were going to be out in UL all day today offering free gait analysis and a 10% discount on selected runners. I signed up for this 2 weeks ago. Each consultation was going to be around 30min long. I got a call on Friday to say that it had been cancelled due to the fact that I was the only one who signed up for it....

So maybe there are alot of runners in Limerick, but maybe there are a lot of casual runners who dont consider themselves runners and therefore dont invest in the specialised things that we would consider the norm at this stage...