The award
was presented by Formula 4 Media, producers of The
Running Event, the largest conference and trade show
for running specialty stores in North America. The
full list of winners is featured in a special published
report that appeared in the January editions of Sports
Insight and Footwear Insight, two leading trade magazines
serving the sports specialty and footwear markets.
The 50 Best Stores list is the result of a year-long
process that rates running stores based on their
customer service, their relationship with the community
they serve and a number of other key factors.
Starting
in the spring of 2008, Formula 4 Media solicited
nominations from consumers, members of the trade
and even stores themselves. The nominations were
edited and vetted and narrowed down to about 120
stores that underwent an intense evaluation process.
The evaluation included a mystery shopping rating
that evaluated the store on 20 different points.
This was done by a secret shopper who spent $100
in the store and rated it on points ranging from
staff knowledge and attitude to “does the store
offer clean try-on socks” to
how simple was the check-out process and what was
the quality of the shopping bag with which you walked
out the door. The mystery shopping was done by Franklin
Resource Group, the leading merchandising company
in the sports retail business.
How a store supports its
local community is another key factor in determining
what stores make the list. The community support
is evaluated based on sponsorship of local races,
support of charities and essentially what the store
does for its local community of runners.
“There are hundreds of great running stores
in the country, but we believe this list represents
The 50 Best,” said Mark Sullivan, president
of Formula 4 Media. “Every store on this list
should be proud that they earned their way on to
the list based on feedback from the toughest, most
objective judges out there, their own customers.”
This
marks the third consecutive year Formula 4 Media
has produced The 50 Best Stores Awards.
The awards
are presented annually at The Running Event and a
full report is published each January.
Formula 4 Media
is a B2B publishing and event company that produces
The Running Event, The Soccer Event, and The Green
Event and will launch The Footwear Event in 2009.
The company publishes a range of leading trade magazines
including Sports Insight, Footwear Insight, Textile
Insight and Team Insight.
For more information on
Formula 4 Media, visit www.formula4media.com |
