sportstyle

Frank Ashcroft, owner, B&B Sporting Goods, Tallahassee, FL Current tech usage: We use a wide range of technologies, including online team stores, inventory control, POS and tech for our sales people. We just got a new system, the Clover POS system, that includes inventory control and credit card sales. Tech's impact on your business: e tech we use, such as inventory control and bar code scanning, has had a positive effect on our business. We sell in bulk and that inventory gets tracked at the end of the year. e inventory control helps with POS and makes it easier to serve walk-in customers. I've been a team dealer for 42 years and technology has definitely improved. Inventory control technology keeps getting faster — it's important to know what's out there and how quick I can get it. Use of tech going forward: Technology changes every day. Being part of Sports, Inc. helps, particularly in areas such as accounts payable. e pros and cons of tech: e main pros are speed and knowledge — we can get orders done faster. e biggest con is that if the electricity goes off, you're dead in the water. You're at the mercy of the electric grid and the Internet. In any case, we still go to buying shows because it helps with our vendor relationships. Zeke Garretson, co-owner, Garretson's Sport Center, Greeley, CO Current tech usage: We do a lot with OrderMyGear and we use POS registers and online team stores. Tech's impact on your business: We're especially high tech in our lettering department. e technology lets us build uniforms easily and sublimation is a big deal — it's cost-effective and there's lots of leeway with designs and colors. Digital designing is important. Team lettering is 60 to 70 percent of our business. Use of tech going forward: Technology will continue to play a big role in our business — it continues to amaze me. Tech is a very big part of the team business because it's a highly special-order business. e pros and cons of tech: On the positive side, from a selling point of view the ability to bring up product on-screen and see what the item will look like is important. It satisfies the need of customers more quickly than ever before. On the downside, 35 to 40 years ago everyone thought computers would come in and save the day. But it can be very time-consuming and there's still paperwork to do. Michael Bodart, owner, Hoosier Sporting Goods, Columbus, IN Current tech usage: Within the store we use Windows-based POS and we also utilize online sites and stores and computerized and digitized artwork and printing. Tech's impact on your business: We've always been on the tech side. ere are still some old codgers out there using pencils and paper, but using technology puts information right at your fingertips. It offers up-to-the- minute pricing and inventory information. sportstylemag.com • sportstyle September/October 2023 • 35

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