Independent Retailer Thrives With New and Used Gear
From Minnesota Daily:
The store [Midwest Mountaineering] is what manager Ed Benites feels is a rarity: "a larger independent outdoor retailer in an urban area." Midwest Mountaineering was voted in the top 25 outdoor stores by Outdoor Business magazine in 2007.
Benites says that most customers come from around the surrounding area for outdoor supplies, while many students and West Bank inhabitants shop upstairs at Thrifty Outfitters, a part of Midwest Mountaineering that sells closeouts and used gear for adventurous people on a budget.
Is selling used gear alongside the new stuff a good idea for brick-and-mortar retailers? Share your thoughts in the comments.
As a parent and owner of a specialty outdoor store dedicated to children, selling used gear is vital. It offers an incentive for those who can afford to buy new gear every year and a means for those who can't.
Posted by: Jennifer Harris | March 28, 2008 at 02:30 AM