One just has to look at the drop in population in Prince George to see why decisions like this are being made. Would have been nice to have the extra retail part time jobs though. I believe they made a sound business decision here.

A drop in population and more on EI

What a surprise!!! I thought there was a sure bet right from the start!! .. .LOL

You know, when one looks at the real estate available in town and one sees that someone picked that spot for a sports store, anyone who knows anything about retail could have told you that is not the "location, location, location" for a sports store.

Saving on location is a bad way to start a competitive retail business that relies in a large part on comparison shoppers.

Isn't our "great" HST gonna help this situation? Or will it be a few years before we see the reason for our HST? Be specific.

Of the bigger franchises we already have Sport Check, Sport Mart and Atmosphere.

Atmosphere (previously Coast Mountain) is only in PG and Kamloops. The rest in BC are all in the GVRD. None on the Island.

The other two are in all the major centres.

I would expect that the new owners are taking another look not only at the general economy, but also the local economy as well as the competition of at least the three larger stores. They have already said goodbye to the site.

There is a Wholesale Sports store in Kamloops and its the size of Superstore. They dont just sell shoes they sell every thing in the line of sports. Like hunting, fishing, scuba diving you name it they have it.

Its another sports Wallmart.
Cheers

Honestly, I don't think this is a wise decision on the part of Wholesale Sports. The stores that gus mentioned aren't really direct competitors as Wholesale Sports is more focused on hunting, fishing and outdoor type stuff.

If they came, I think they would capture 95% of the market almost overnight. Like many things in PG, our local speciality shops like to soak the local people and they leave allot to be desired when it comes to variety of products, knowledgeable staff, etc. When it comes to major purchases, most all of my stuff is done out of town. The few times I've tried to keep my business local, I've been greeted with the "buy what we stock" attitude, the "well I could get it for you but it will take a couple of months" line of bunk or the "yeah I can get it but it will cost you 40% more than what it runs in Kamloops or Edmonton" bologna. The one exception I can think of is the Northern. I've had very good service there but obviously they are limited in what they can offer just because of their scale and size.

In short, some PG businesses are their own worst enemy and a well run tackle/outdoors type shop would clean up in this town.

I have shopped the Wholesale Sports in Kamloops and believe me its nowhere near the size of superstore. Its more the size of say Shoppers at Pine Center. I agree with NMG about the excess prices that some stores charge. I recently bought a box of ammo for 49.99 and the exact same product was only 34.99 at Wholesale Sports. Its a great store and would have done well up here. Hopefully they change thier minds and build one in the future.

And now we have another lot that has been cleared of trees by developers and sits vacant for years. Go further down Domano Blvd. and look at the lot across from the High School. Cleared of trees a few years ago for a multi family dwelling and it still sits empty

I was fortunate to shop in a SCHEELS Sporting Goods Store in St. Cloud, Minnesota recently. Amazing store with a selection like I have never seen anywhere else for absolutely every sport.

I think that Wholesale Sports could have made a go of it in Prince George. Lean times or not, there are a lot of people needing and using the products they sell, and a very large catchment area, anywhere North, East and West of Quesnel, I would think. One heck of a lot of outdoors enthusiasts in that geographical zone, not to mention travellers. I am intrigued by the positive comments about the Kamloops location, and intend to stop in there.
metalman.