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Run Business Is Alive and Well at TRE 2017
By The Running Insight Staff
F
or those looking for signs of strength in the market,
The Running Event provided assurances that the
business is alive and well and may in fact be headed
for an upswing in 2018.
"There was a more optimistic feeling this year,
compared to the last few years," said Matt Helbig, owner
of the three Big River Running stores in Saint Louis. "Many of
the store owners I spoke with were up this year and were excited
to see what 2018 brings. The show, as always, brings together the
industry unlike anything else."
TRE 2017 drew the biggest retail attendance in its 12-year
history and featured a lively trade show floor and a packed
conference program that included an on-stage interview of
former Whole Foods CEO Walter Robb by the owner of
Pacers Running Chris Farley.
In a spirited exchange, Robb offered down to earth advice
for running store owners based on his 20+ years in healthy
food retailing. At one point Farley asked him about the
chain's reputation for high prices, which earned the sarcastic
nickname of "Whole Paycheck." Robb clearly bristled at
that question and fired back: "I never apologized for selling
quality and running stores shouldn't either. Consumers can
buy $40 running shoes but that's not what your stores sell. We
had to explain why our products were worth money and that's
what successful retailers do."
Robb also spoke about the importance of culture in good
stores. "Most people see culture as something soft, but it's the
most important asset good stores have," said Robb. "It should be
something you can put on your balance sheets."
On the trade show floor, attendees were treated to a potential
TRE 2017 drew the biggest retail attendance in its 12-year history and featured a lively trade show floor and a packed conference program.
