NFR - Whatever happened to sports shops?

[The Equalizer]

When I were a young lad, growing up just off the North End Road, we had such fine sporting establishments as Apollo Sport and World of Sport - the latter opened by Brian Jacks in about 1982. These were both fine examples of a sports shop. You could go in to either one and find a selection of great sports equipment, be it tennis racquets, cricket bats, table tennis paddles, judo outfits, football boots, basketballs etc.. They were just great. But where have they gone?

High Street sports shops these days are little more than fashion retailers. JD Sports is a dirty great trainer shop, Sports Direct is a dirty great tracksuit bottom and cheap trainer shop, with a sideline in extremely poor quality cheap sports gear.  There are no other options. At all.

Decathlon claims to be a sports shop, but is mostly own brand and seems to concentrate on the Outdoors adventures as opposed to true sports.

Any ideas? Should we all club together and start a sports shop?

[RaySmith]

The internet is the reason why there aren't many apart from  big chains like Sports direct, who do actually have some  good quality  stuff - the Karimoor range, which  now seems to be their's, is very good value.

Online has meant the death of the high street - and we, the consumers must be responsible. Well I always buy online - it's so cheap, plus a have a phobia about shopping. But the shops have gone because people mostly prefer to buy online now.

Sad though this is.

[cmg]

As a boot junkie who got through a pair a year (football and rugby took a heavy toll) I have fond memories of a number of shops that no longer exist.

I got my Slazenger 'Johnny Haynes' (expensive and, to be honest, not that good) and my first Adidas from the place at the top of the Arcade in Sutton. Who also supplied the red and white shirt I wore to the Cup Final (came out of  box marked Manchester City away!).

Eddie Watts (Cheam station) often had good bargains in handmade boots and the bloke who ran the one in Kew Road, Richmond, near the Athletic Ground would keep stuff that he thought might suit me.
Hales at South Wimbledon was pretty decent, too.
All gone now.

[The Equalizer]

The internet is the reason why there aren't many apart from  big chains like Sports direct, who do actually have some  good quality  stuff - the Karimoor range, which  now seems to be their's, is very good value.

Online has meant the death of the high street - and we, the consumers must be responsible. Well I always buy online - it's so cheap, plus a have a phobia about shopping. But the shops have gone because people mostly prefer to buy online now.

Sad though this is.

But why is this not true for mountain sports where the customer base is much smaller? It's easier for me to pop out for a 10 minute walk and buy a complete set of rock climbing gear than it is for me to get a set of cricket whites.

[Mince n Tatties]

Where I live we have Newmarket Sports, its like the old sports shops
you mentioned, has cycles, canoes, sailing stuff, fishing gear, and it also
Has the norm cricket n tennis gear.Does footie shirts.
As you say though most are like JD now.

[fulhamben]

The internet is the reason why there aren't many apart from  big chains like Sports direct, who do actually have some  good quality  stuff - the Karimoor range, which  now seems to be their's, is very good value.

Online has meant the death of the high street - and we, the consumers must be responsible. Well I always buy online - it's so cheap, plus a have a phobia about shopping. But the shops have gone because people mostly prefer to buy online now.

Sad though this is.

But why is this not true for mountain sports where the customer base is much smaller? It's easier for me to pop out for a 10 minute walk and buy a complete set of rock climbing gear than it is for me to get a set of cricket whites.

have you ever been in a snow and rock shop? they only have to sell one item a year to cover there over heads, well expensive in there. and things like the stuff you mention, you will always want to try on or at least have a look at before you buy.

[The Equalizer]

The internet is the reason why there aren't many apart from  big chains like Sports direct, who do actually have some  good quality  stuff - the Karimoor range, which  now seems to be their's, is very good value.

Online has meant the death of the high street - and we, the consumers must be responsible. Well I always buy online - it's so cheap, plus a have a phobia about shopping. But the shops have gone because people mostly prefer to buy online now.

Sad though this is.

But why is this not true for mountain sports where the customer base is much smaller? It's easier for me to pop out for a 10 minute walk and buy a complete set of rock climbing gear than it is for me to get a set of cricket whites.

have you ever been in a snow and rock shop? they only have to sell one item a year to cover there over heads, well expensive in there. and things like the stuff you mention, you will always want to try on or at least have a look at before you buy.

Snow & Rock do hike up the prices somewhat. I always use Ellis Brigham when getting my gear. It was always nice getting a 10% discount on a £550 Spyder jacket from there when I worked at the BBC.

[f321ffc]

Many moons ago we had one in Battersea owned by Frank Blunstone who played for the Bloopoo.

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Same as what happened to high st travel agents. Torpedoed by the internet

[The Equalizer]

Same as what happened to high st travel agents. Torpedoed by the internet

But there's still choice of travel agents around. Flight Centre, Thomson, Kuoni, Thomas Cook are everywhere! Lunn Poly ain't though.

[General]

I think companies are now just specialising. I used to do Judo and a lot of those uniforms were distributed or bought in by the judo clubs so there was no need to find it locally at sports shops, same with rowing lycras etc. It does limit the sports exposure apart from at the olympics but isn't ideal. I agree though, high street stores do cater a lot less more more generalised sports, but perhaps that could just be because financially it's driven by what sells the most and trainers, sportswear is higher up on that list. Plus the online market exists. A lot of schools in the UK wont teach cricket, or rugby to be honest, although rugby has been adapted by more state schools and academies in recent years. Plus I suppose people don't have the time due to work to do extra sports.. there's also probably a lot less land around to do proper sports. I tried signing up to a rugby team in London, but to get there and back could take up to 3 hours from where I live as there aren't enough spaces nearby or options to partake.

[Chesh]

Action Replay Sports in Ruislip High Street is good

[grandad]

I always shopped at Ian Black & Eddie Lowe´s shop in Tolworth.

[toshes mate]

When I were a young lad, growing up just off the North End Road, we had such fine sporting establishments as Apollo Sport and World of Sport - the latter opened by Brian Jacks in about 1982. These were both fine examples of a sports shop. You could go in to either one and find a selection of great sports equipment, be it tennis racquets, cricket bats, table tennis paddles, judo outfits, football boots, basketballs etc.. They were just great. But where have they gone?

High Street sports shops these days are little more than fashion retailers. JD Sports is a dirty great trainer shop, Sports Direct is a dirty great tracksuit bottom and cheap trainer shop, with a sideline in extremely poor quality cheap sports gear.  There are no other options. At all.

Decathlon claims to be a sports shop, but is mostly own brand and seems to concentrate on the Outdoors adventures as opposed to true sports.

Any ideas? Should we all club together and start a sports shop?

It isn't just sports gear, the minimalising of alternatives and choices has affected everything - think of the tool shops, the foam and rubber dealers, the variety delicatessens, butchers, bakers, and candlestickmakers - they have all gone, disappeared, and with it a wealth of advice, information, and knowledge.  There used to be so many high street oddities but they have all disappeared in a world dominated by corporations who are not good at or for anything.

[epsomraver]

The internet is the reason why there aren't many apart from  big chains like Sports direct, who do actually have some  good quality  stuff - the Karimoor range, which  now seems to be their's, is very good value.

Online has meant the death of the high street - and we, the consumers must be responsible. Well I always buy online - it's so cheap, plus a have a phobia about shopping. But the shops have gone because people mostly prefer to buy online now.

Sad though this is.

But why is this not true for mountain sports where the customer base is much smaller? It's easier for me to pop out for a 10 minute walk and buy a complete set of rock climbing gear than it is for me to get a set of cricket whites.

have you ever been in a snow and rock shop? they only have to sell one item a year to cover there over heads, well expensive in there. and things like the stuff you mention, you will always want to try on or at least have a look at before you buy.
[/quote)

And how much do you think the shop has to pay to get the items in their shop in the first place?

[The Equalizer]

When I were a young lad, growing up just off the North End Road, we had such fine sporting establishments as Apollo Sport and World of Sport - the latter opened by Brian Jacks in about 1982. These were both fine examples of a sports shop. You could go in to either one and find a selection of great sports equipment, be it tennis racquets, cricket bats, table tennis paddles, judo outfits, football boots, basketballs etc.. They were just great. But where have they gone?

High Street sports shops these days are little more than fashion retailers. JD Sports is a dirty great trainer shop, Sports Direct is a dirty great tracksuit bottom and cheap trainer shop, with a sideline in extremely poor quality cheap sports gear.  There are no other options. At all.

Decathlon claims to be a sports shop, but is mostly own brand and seems to concentrate on the Outdoors adventures as opposed to true sports.

Any ideas? Should we all club together and start a sports shop?

It isn't just sports gear, the minimalising of alternatives and choices has affected everything - think of the tool shops, the foam and rubber dealers, the variety delicatessens, butchers, bakers, and candlestickmakers - they have all gone, disappeared, and with it a wealth of advice, information, and knowledge.  There used to be so many high street oddities but they have all disappeared in a world dominated by corporations who are not good at or for anything.

Well said! And decent music / film shops.

Although, I've seen a lot more butchers, delis and bakers popping up recently. There's some cracking ones on Askew Road. None on East Hill, Wandsworth yet though.

[toshes mate]

When I were a young lad, growing up just off the North End Road, we had such fine sporting establishments as Apollo Sport and World of Sport - the latter opened by Brian Jacks in about 1982. These were both fine examples of a sports shop. You could go in to either one and find a selection of great sports equipment, be it tennis racquets, cricket bats, table tennis paddles, judo outfits, football boots, basketballs etc.. They were just great. But where have they gone?

High Street sports shops these days are little more than fashion retailers. JD Sports is a dirty great trainer shop, Sports Direct is a dirty great tracksuit bottom and cheap trainer shop, with a sideline in extremely poor quality cheap sports gear.  There are no other options. At all.

Decathlon claims to be a sports shop, but is mostly own brand and seems to concentrate on the Outdoors adventures as opposed to true sports.

Any ideas? Should we all club together and start a sports shop?

It isn't just sports gear, the minimalising of alternatives and choices has affected everything - think of the tool shops, the foam and rubber dealers, the variety delicatessens, butchers, bakers, and candlestickmakers - they have all gone, disappeared, and with it a wealth of advice, information, and knowledge.  There used to be so many high street oddities but they have all disappeared in a world dominated by corporations who are not good at or for anything.

Well said! And decent music / film shops.

Although, I've seen a lot more butchers, delis and bakers popping up recently. There's some cracking ones on Askew Road. None on East Hill, Wandsworth yet though.

Just seen another plastics dealer go bust in Colliers Wood, and the local timber merchants are now quantity only merchants - don't even ask for offcuts because they don't have them anymore....   Makes me so very sad.

[epsomraver]

When I were a young lad, growing up just off the North End Road, we had such fine sporting establishments as Apollo Sport and World of Sport - the latter opened by Brian Jacks in about 1982. These were both fine examples of a sports shop. You could go in to either one and find a selection of great sports equipment, be it tennis racquets, cricket bats, table tennis paddles, judo outfits, football boots, basketballs etc.. They were just great. But where have they gone?

High Street sports shops these days are little more than fashion retailers. JD Sports is a dirty great trainer shop, Sports Direct is a dirty great tracksuit bottom and cheap trainer shop, with a sideline in extremely poor quality cheap sports gear.  There are no other options. At all.

Decathlon claims to be a sports shop, but is mostly own brand and seems to concentrate on the Outdoors adventures as opposed to true sports.

Any ideas? Should we all club together and start a sports shop?

It isn't just sports gear, the minimalising of alternatives and choices has affected everything - think of the tool shops, the foam and rubber dealers, the variety delicatessens, butchers, bakers, and candlestickmakers - they have all gone, disappeared, and with it a wealth of advice, information, and knowledge.  There used to be so many high street oddities but they have all disappeared in a world dominated by corporations who are not good at or for anything.

Well said! And decent music / film shops.

Although, I've seen a lot more butchers, delis and bakers popping up recently. There's some cracking ones on Askew Road. None on East Hill, Wandsworth yet though.

I had a small retail shop but ended up just being used for info so that people could go and buy items off the net, some had the cheek so come in and ask how to set them up, that is why there are so few small shops around, killed off by the internet and large out of town centres with free parking

[SadOldGit]

Quite a few happy memories of me and my brothers shopping at (ian) Black and (Eddie) Lowe's sports shop in Tolworth.  Above the window it read Black and Lowe with Fulam FC and Scotland on one side and Fulham FC and England on the other.

[Jamie88]

My dad used to own a small sports shop in Worcester Park during the late 90's/early 00's - it became impossible to compete with the bigger names and what with the internet growing it made it so hard for him to make any money out of it.
He would sell equipment for every sport under the sun, offer name printing on shirts, re-string rackets, design & print graphics for t-shirts etc but it became such a financial loss for him he had to pack it all in