Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1524423
purchasing non-shoe brands for uniforms, PSG's biggest category within diamond sports. Says Siegel: "My feel is that most of these coaches and players wear these other products in select and club sports and realize the value is much better than previously perceived." PSG continues to focus its efforts on school and district sales throughout the state of Texas. Many are utilizing online channels and builders to gather information and make a purchase decision. "We have embraced online selling though online stores and a dedicated team to ensure they go off without a hitch," says Siegel. "is brings another challenge as stores open us up to another customer base from the parents and guardians. It is also a huge upsell opportunity." A newer challenge PSG is facing is low- end imported sellers at the league level, but custom gear lead times have normalized aer disruption caused by the pandemic. For PSG, the growth is in travel and select baseball/soball recreational teams. Siegel expects school-level baseball and soball to remain at a "steady state" in terms of partici- pation. "ere are always existing schools to compete for, but there are not a huge number of kids joining those teams year aer year." Sports Plus in Fredericksburg, VA, sees base- ball and soball accounting for about half of its business, says Billy Oehm, VP and sales manager. Play is year-round with college teams playing fall ball and practicing through the winter in indoor facilities. Says Oehm: "Fast- pitch soball specifically is growing faster than baseball, but they're both growing." Sports Plus' focus is on uniforms and spirit wear. e dealer also does a solid business in facility equipment such as windscreens, fence caps, bases and field paint. It doesn't sell a wide range of bats and the gloves because it doesn't have a retail presence. e big growth opportunity for Sports Plus in recent years has been travel ball. "We are blessed that we are in Fairfax County, a top five affluent county in the country. Loudoun County, right next door, is also in the top five. So we don't feel recessions like somebody else because of the federal govern- ment and all the money that drives it. People don't miss paychecks." He admits that travel teams can be a "little more demanding," with high school programs understanding they need to buy early, but travel teams underestimating turnaround time. "It's more of an Amazon mentality." Sports Plus services high schools, middle schools as well as Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion. e dealer has an online presence because it's become an expectation and has done more social media in recent years, but its sales team still visits schools. teaminsightmag.com July/August 2024 ~ Team Insight • 17