The 50 Best Running Stores in America

Midwest

Athletic Annex
Big River Running
Elite Feet, Kansas City
Fleet Feet Chicago
Fleet Feet Cincinnati
Fleet Feet St. Louis
Garry Gribble’s Sports
Gazelle Sports
Hanson’s Running Shop
Movin’ Shoes, Madison
Naperville Running Co.
Playmakers
Runners High’N Tri
The Running Spot
The Running Company, Indianapolis



The West

A Snail’s Pace
Bandanna Running
Boulder Running Company
Fleet Feet Davis
Fleet Feet Tucson
Heart & Sole Sports
Napa Running Company
Runner’s High, Menlo Park
Ryan’s Sports Shop
Salt Lake City Running Co.
See Jane Run
Skinny Raven Sports
Super Jock’n Jill











The South

1st Place Sports
9th Street Active Feet
TAF Raleigh
Big Peach Running Co.
Fleet Feet Huntsville
Fleet Feet Hunstville
Luke’s Locker
Metro Run & Walk
Pacers Running Store
Potomac River Running
Roger Soler Sports
Running Zone, Melbourne
Run On
Runner’s Depot
Track Shack
Virginia Runner

The Northeast

Bryn Mawr
Elite Runners & Walkers
Fleet Feet Adams-Morgan
Fleet Feet Syracuse
Flying Feet Sports
Georgetown Running Co.
Marathon Sports
Medved Sports
Jack Rabbit Sports
Whirlaway Sports

The Finalists for Store of the Year

9th Street Active
Bryn Mawr Running Co.
Fleet Feet Huntsville
Luke’s Locker



How The 50 Best Was Selected


There were new criteria for selecting the 50 Best Stores in 2007. Last year the results were based largely on a mystery shopping rating of each stores that was conducted by The Franklin Resource Group, the leading store merchandising company serving the sporting goods industry. This year, the mystery shopping accounted for 50% of the total evaluation. A community involvement rating accounted for 25% and credit scores and evaluation from vendors accounted for the remaining 25%.


Rating Criteria for The Mystery Shopping
• How promptly were you greeted?
• How knowledgeable and helpful was the staff OVERALL?
• How many choices of items in your size and price range did they bring you to try on?
• Were they polite and respectful?
• Did they offer additional information beyond your question(s)?
• Were you thanked and given incentive to visit the store again in the future?
• How would rate the overall experience?
• If you were shopping with your own money and interested in running, would you return to this store?
• Did the sales person measure your foot?
• Did the sales person measure your gait for specific needs? (ie - overpronation, underpronation or neutral)
• Were try-on socks available? If so, were they clean?
• Did the sales person help you beyond the shoe selection? (ie - discussed apparel or accessory items, etc)
• Did the store carry a wide range of sizes, colors and brands of running shoes? (refer to brand list above in report instructions)
• Was your size available in the shoe(s) the associate suggested initially?
• Were all of the prices clearly marked?
• What kind of range of accessory products does this store carry? (socks, insoles, water bottles, hats, watches, etc)
• Was the store well-lit, clean and easy to maneuver? (rate overall)
• Was the merchandise presented in a way that was easy to understand and shop? (rate overall)
• Was the fitting room for apparel comfortable, well lit and clean?
• Was the checkout procedure quick and simple?
• Rate the sales associates on their attire. Were they readily identifiable?
• Please add anything (positive or negative) that you experienced during your visit:
Total evaluation was worth 100 points

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