1.. When did the business start? Ans:
NOVEMBER 27, 1998
We opened the Mission Bay store. It was our first official location and we were only open Friday-Sunday, and we cut costs everywhere we could - we made all our fixtures from found materials, painted our own signs, and Tom scoured the streets in his pickup looking for second hand couches to clean up and use. We've kept up that tradition - we still make all our fixtures from scratch, and you'll still find comfy couches in all our stores!
2. What motivated you to go into this business? Ans:Tom, Eric and Dave, friends since 1st grade, just wanted to get outdoors without paying an arm and a leg. They banded together to create something weird and new - a sporting goods store that catered to everyone that wanted to enjoy the outdoors, with no high-cost barrier to entry. The whole idea was to work with the smallest margins possible so Sports Basement could have the best brands at, well, Basement prices.
3. What is your primary product or service of your
business? Ans: Sporting goods. The whole idea was to work with the smallest margins possible so Sports Basement could have the best brands at, well, Basement prices
.
4. Who is your primary market? Ans: A sporting goods store that catered to everyone that wanted to enjoy the outdoors, with no high-cost barrier to entry.
5.Has your business grown since you started? Ans: Yes! The whole idea was to work with the smallest margins possible so Sports Basement could have the best brands at, well, Basement prices.
It worked, and now Sports Basement is able to deliver great gear at great prices at 11 different stores in the Bay Area!
6. What are your plans for the future (special offers)? Ans: The pandemic caused us to think outside the box for new ways to serve our communities and help every Bay Area resident enjoy the outdoors. Enter: Sports Basement Pre-Loved! Basementeers can trade in their gently used gear and to earn store credit, and we're able to sell top quality outdoor gear for around 60% off MSRP. Plus, shopping used helps extend the lifespan of your gear and clothes, which is good for the Earth. It's a win-win-win!
7. What else would you like to share with our members? Ans: In 2015, Sports Basement was experiencing some major growth - new stores all over the Bay Area, and lots of new programs and ideas flying around. Sports Basement was founded on the knowledge that whatever we accomplish, it’s thanks to our community support, so we’ve always worked to give back to local schools, volunteer with local charities and basically giving back with all our hearts. But our founders knew we could do more! They wanted to put the power in the hands of the community itself, and at the same time, they wanted to find a way to help our communities save a little more, too. The Basementeer program was born.
Basementeers pay a one-time $25 fee to unlock a lifetime of savings: 10% off every purchase, every single time they shop. In addition, Basementeers choose one of 1400+ beneficiaries at signup. At the end of the fiscal year, 10% of yearly profits are allocated to the beneficiaries, with the percentages allocated according to the spend of the customers supporting them. Basementeers are literally supporting their favorite local charities and schools with every dollar they spend.
Best,
Derrick Banks
Marketing
Sports Basement-Stonestown
P: 310-560-4842
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