First it was gun buyers and now it is hunters. Retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods seems to want to limit its customer base.
“In my opinion, Dick’s Sporting Goods has just shot themselves in the foot once again,” said SCI President Paul Babaz. President Babaz is referring to the recent decision announced by Dick’s that the company might remove all hunting gear from their stores.
“Dick’s made a strategic mistake last February when they announced they were taking modern sporting rifles off their shelves as well as refusing to sell any firearm to someone under the age of 21,” Babaz continued. “If Dick’s doesn’t want our business, that’s fine. We can go elsewhere. Hunters can start by supporting SCI’s Corporate Sponsor retailers Cabela’s, Midway USA, Gordy & Sons, Bass Pro Shops and Scheels.”
It didn’t take a huge leap in logic to predict sales at the sporting goods store would falter following that decision. That is precisely what happened to their hunting gear department. It suffered a loss of revenue.
“The Pennsylvania-based retailer earlier reported a third-quarter net sales decline to $1.86 billion from $1.94 billion in the year-earlier period, with adjusted same-store sales down 3.9 percent,” CBS reported.
“In the past I might have gone into Dick’s for some miscellaneous gear or other sporting equipment, but after seeing their recent decision to stop carrying hunting gear, I’m not inclined to shop there anymore,” added SCI CEO Rick Parsons.
“I’d rather give my money to a sporting goods store that is positive about hunting and shows it by having hunting gear on the shelves – whether or not I’m in the market for hunting gear on the day I go shopping,” Parsons added.”
“Dick’s Sporting Goods has made it clear that it doesn’t want hunters’ business by removing hunting merchandise. So, I will accommodate them and take my business – ALL of my business elsewhere, either to one of the corporate sponsors listed above or to Brownell’s,” concluded President Babaz.
