5 Steps to Starting a Pro Shop
How to Start a Pro Shop in Your Gym That Parents and Athletes Will Love
Do you see visions of a beautiful, profitable pro shop inside of your gym, but aren’t sure where to start? We can help you with the first steps in setting it up, as well as work with you to design gorgeous, high-quality products that will look great on athletes, parents, and fans. Having a pro shop in your gym is not only a great business-venture, but an amazing addition to the experience for your cheer families. The convenience to be able to shop for practice wear, gym-branded swag, and other must-haves straight from the gym is a huge perk for parents and athletes.
Here’s where to start:
Decide who your customer is and create a collection of merchandise that appeals to the broadest audience. You’ll want to make sure that you have an assortment of products that appeal to both a 5-year-old and 18-year-old athlete, and everything in between. You also want to make sure to have a selection of products that appeal to cheer parents and families (don’t forget about our die-hard cheer dads!). It is also beneficial to have some other products in addition to just practice wear and other apparel, such as, Rebel Dream Bags, Tote Bags, Makeup Bags, Rebel Ruthless or Revolt shoes, bows/hair accessories, etc. We have endless customizable products to choose from.
As with any retail operation, an organized and shoppable store will generate more sales. So create an inviting pro shop with impactful displays! Choose a location in your gym that can turn your pro shop into a visually appealing showcase. Space for some hanging products, a display case, mannequins, etc. is ideal. It doesn’t have to be large, but you’ll also want to keep in mind that you’ll need a designated area for back stock, or additional product sizes/units that are not displayed.
Staff the pro shop with friendly and helpful associates who are familiar with cheerleading. When possible, employ active or retired participants of the gym. Your pro shop staff can make all the difference in the world. Happy employees = happy customers. Choose staff that are welcoming, helpful, and quick to problem-solve. Your athletes and parents will always expect a quick response when looking for a certain product, size, or color-way in an item. Sometimes parents and athletes give some great advice and suggestions for products, so having attentive, hard-working employees can allow them to collaborate with families to meet everyone’s wants and needs.
Keep a set schedule! Opening late or closing early can result in missed sales opportunities. Your schedule will revolve around your gym’s hours of operation, but you’ll always want to be open during times your gym gets the most activity with team practices or classes.
Listen to your CUSTOMERS! When choosing to roll out new merchandise, find out what your customers want or need. As mentioned in step three, customers often provide the best direction and suggestions when it comes to what they want to see in the pro shop. Be attentive and consider your customers suggestions or complaints when working to start or improve your pro shop. The more you can please your customers, the more your pro shop will grow and succeed!
We hope these tips are helpful to those of you who are considering opening a pro shop within your gym. Reach out to us if you are interested in stocking a pro shop, and we will get you started with the latest unique, innovative cheerleading and cheer fan must-haves.