Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1539146
58 • July/August 2025 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com Owners: Greg Heider, president; Matt Heider, vice president History: Sportsman's of Johnstown, PA, was founded by George Heider in 1948 aer he returned from WWII. He transformed his mother's small hardware/ candy and fishing supply store into one of the largest independent family- owned and family-operated team sports suppliers in the nation. His dedication to hard work, long hours, and being known for reliability, honestly and integrity has been key to the business' success for the past 77 years, and his knowledge of representing athletic team items of quality has not changed for three generations. George's sons, Greg and Matt, have continued their father's teaching of core values and have success- fully moved the business forward with the addition of in-house foot- ball reconditioning and their own brand of team sports uniforms and equipment that bear the logo, 'TEAM 48' — that stands for the year Sportsman's was founded. Most Gratifying Aspects: "Seeing our third generation producing for the companies and being able to make quick business decisions that affect all aspects of running a team business," says Greg Heider. Challenges:"Tariffs! is is first and foremost this year. ey have affected cost of goods as well as having a sound presence in the digital world." Looking Ahead: "Our plan is to have our third generation own and manage the business aer my brother, Matt, and I retire. But retirement at this time is not in our vocabulary. Regarding expansion plans, we are always soliciting new business as well as new markets with existing customers, such as inside gym equipment sales and installation. We have three siblings that can, and may, join our business at any time in their lives. Fortunately, they are all college graduates in business, marketing and accounting — we'll even have a lawyer in the family who is soon to graduate from law school." The Future of Family-Owned Team Businesses: "Hard to say, except I always tell my nephews and sons to continue doing business the way we do it now and to provide the best service we have to our customers." JOHNSTOWN, PA SPORTSMAN'S The plan at Sportsman's is to have a third generation own and manage the business, which was founded way back in 1948. TEAM SPORTS