One of the best reasons to shop at a specialty store is because they often offer demos of products.
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| After the Thursday night group run at Fitness Sports, they have free pizza and a free beer at 515 Brewing! At one particular run, we also got free socks! |
I shop at Fitness Sports in Windsor Heights and one way they support runners is by bringing in representatives from different shoe companies for group run nights. Throughout the spring and summer, Fitness Sports has hosted Thursday night group runs (it’s sporadic so be sure to follow their Facebook page if you’re interested in joining in on a run). They’ve brought in reps from Nike, Saucony and New Balance who bring in the latest models of various shoes to try during the run.
So, #1 – you can try out various shoes in an actual walking or running environment without making any commitment to purchasing one (and you can see what you actually like and don’t!) and #2 – you can ask questions to a real expert who can help you find the best fit or style based on what felt good and what didn’t. You typically just can’t do that if you buy your shoes at Kohl’s or Famous Footwear or DSW or Sports Authority (I name these because I’ve either bought shoes from there or seen shoe models I wear there). I have super janky heels so I’m cautious testing out shoes but Jason has tried different shoes every time and has found ones he really likes and will wear and others that don’t make the cut. And we typically run anywhere from 3-4 miles during the group run so it’s a great test distance to know whether it’s a good fit or not.
Many specialty local bike shops host different bike brands for their demo days. This is a great way to try out the latest models, no matter if you’re in the market for a new bike right now or not. If you are looking to purchase a new bike, a shop is going to set you up to take a bike from the shop floor out for a test ride. I’m in the market for a new mountain bike but I want to take the time to find the right bike for me – I want to balance the fit of the bike with the ability to roll over medium-to-difficult Iowa terrain (which of course is tame to many other places :)). I’ve tried a few bikes at my shop and just recently went to a Trek demo day. I rented a Superfly 100 when we were in Pagosa Springs and I loved it. I wanted to demo one on a typical Iowa trail to make sure it felt the same in my own backyard. While I was demoing the bike, Jason was also able to ride one for fun.
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| We went to the Trek demo day so that I could try the Superfly 100 on a typical Iowa trail. I demoed another bike and I'm getting closer to making a final decision on a new bike! |
I highly recommend you stop in a few specialty stores to get to know the staff, tap into their expertise and become familiar with what they have available. I recommend this to both newbies and experts! Trust me, it’s worth the time and effort. If you are scared or feel embarrassed (won’t they make fun of me…won’t they act annoyed or bothered by someone new…), DON’T BE. The best stores (or the RIGHT one) will treat you with respect and be happy to help serve you. That’s their job. In fact, the employees of the specialty stores I support really love the sport and they love helping get others into the products that get you to go outdoors! If you have a bad experience at a store, it’s certainly okay to leave and go somewhere else.
Here’s a few of the other benefits I think you get from going to a specialty store.
1. A specialty store should have the widest variety of products available. And if they don’t have what you want, they should be able to order it. So let’s say you have wide feet and have a hard time finding a shoe – I know Fitness Sports, for example, has some wide shoes in stock and they are definitely willing to order. You’re going to find more options here than at a big box store.
2. A specialty store should allow you to do some sort of test drive on the product. Whether it’s taking a bike for a spin or running on a treadmill at home, they want to make sure you’re happy with a purchase and that it’s going to work for you. Before you do too much wear or tear to the product, they need you try it out and most will let you return or exchange.
3. A specialty store has experts, so ask questions. Again, don’t be afraid if you’re new (or hey, don’t be afraid if you’re a pro and they know you – you can still ask questions!). If you have never had your shoes professionally fit, ask them to accurately measure your foot and test your toes when you put the shoe on. They’ll do that; it’s their job. And it can save you a lot of discomfort and pain from buying the wrong size.
4. A specialty store may offer you additional benefits for supporting them. When we participate on the Thursday night run, we can get a discount on the rep’s brand of clothes in the store. Also, once we got free socks from a rep (score!). It doesn’t mean you should expect some freebie every time you do something, but every now and then, you get rewarded for participating and being a customer.
5. Typically, a specialty store is a local business. Some people (like me) like spending their money and supporting local stores. In turn, many of the specialty stores I shop at support local community events (they help put on the event, they offer prizes for the event, they supply drinks and snacks, they provide race support, etc.).
A specialty store may not run the big sales and specials that you’ll find at big box stores, but when you come in and have a question, they’ll answer it accurately. When you want something special ordered in, they’ll order it. When you want the latest and greatest information or specialized service just for you, they’ll give it to you. When you want someone to learn your name and remember your preferences or ask how a recent race went, they’ll take the time to learn about you as a customer and serve you as best as they can.
Miss FitGab
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