Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1528934
48 runstyle Fall 2024 runstylemag.com TREND INSIGHT / RUNNING CONSUMER SURVEY 1:1 attention. Attention to detail. ey watch my stride to assess which shoes are best for me. Female 59 I recognize that the money I spend is staying within my community. I know the people there well, and I want to support local business. Male 31 My local running store has always been the same people running out and I love our close-knit community. All the runners in my community shop there and it's just nice to see familiar faces when I enter the building. Female 34 e ability to touch/feel/see and try on the shoes and clothes. Don't have to worry about returning them because I know it fits when leaving the store. Female 47 Running nerds for miles. I guess I mean the sense that everyone there is into the same thing you are and you all want to help each other get better. Male 36 Low-pressure sales and expertise of sales associates. Male 50 e customer service is awesome. Return policy is great. And they are runners. Female 33 It's close, I can try on the shoes and I can ask questions. Female 39 e knowledge from the salespeople. People at a chain store are less likely to have any specific running knowledge. Female 42 Run analysis and testing in treadmills. Female 41 Helping support local biz and their personal touch. Male 37 e people working there become friends and help with anything you need. ey're not looking to just make a sale. Female 47 e people are kind and they usually have a few generations in the store! Female 42 Variety, quality offered, price, and customer service. Male 42 e help and care that come with being in person shopping. Male 28 Having an associate that knows me and my shoe preferences, and getting properly fitted every time I go. Female 35 e people, the knowledge about running, the variety of running specific accessories, lots of options for fueling. Female 55 If you shop at a local running store, what is your favorite thing about shopping there? ey would have an even bigger selection! ough they can and will order in any shoes that are in their catalog. Female 42 Better discounts. Female 56 Better selection of color ways for brands I wear. Male 42 Ensure there is a supply of each model shoe at each size. Male 58 Price. e running store is very rarely on sale. e Sports store offers money rewards and discounts. Female 47 More apparel for my age group. Shorts a little longer with zippered pockets. Female 58 Being able to get in-store deals on line. Male 37 Diagrams displayed with each pair of shoe explaining the function and fit. Female 54 e price. I wish I could always buy in store to support local stores, but it's hard to do that when they can sometime be $20-$50 more expensive...and running shoes are expensive to begin with! Female 35 Add a treadmill to try the footwear in the store. Male 58 Every store should have bathrooms and water for runners. Male 29 I wish it was closer. Male 30 Get rid of some of the "elitist" running people and workers. e running community is supposed to encourage all not show up the slower bigger runners. Male 47 Better sock selection. Each running store will have 2-3 different brand max. Also more running accessories. Headphones, gels, Gus, electrolytes, etc. Male 44 Stop putting new young people in a position of perceived knowledge of product prematurely. Male 60 More variety in running clothes. Male 31 More variety, especially niche brands. Male 36 Return policy and offering more discounts. Female 36 e ability to run in the shoes for a short distance to test them out more. Male 35 A better loyalty program. Male 44 Better hours! If you open at 10am and close before 5pm there is no way for me to get there during the week. Female 41 Ability to schedule an appointment. Sometimes they are backed up, and waiting can be painful. Male 51 If you could change one thing at your favorite running store for a better experience, what would it be? LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT RUNNERS SAY THEY LOVE (AND

