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Sports Traider on course for growth
Affordable sports retailer targets huge growth in effort to support access and participation for all
Affordable sports kit retailer Sports Traider is targeting massive growth in the coming years in order to maximise the opportunities for young people to participate in sport.
Sports Traider takes return, end-of-line, sample and old stock from other retailers and direct from manufacturers and passes it on for free or at a greatly reduced cost to make sports equipment accessible to all.
The business currently has three outlets in Bedford, Leicester and Luton, but is aiming for more than 150 stores around the UK.
Growth will start with up to six new stores opening by the end of year, with operations in Milton Keynes and Stevenage notable additions.
Lance Haggith, the founder of Sports Traider, said some locations will have more than one Sports Traider store depending on the need and demand from the local community, with the company now working to gather support from the industry.
“The main focus is to get more sports companies on board with us and supporting us, and to get more from them.
“This doesn’t affect current ranges as we want older stock to pass on to those that might not be able to afford it. Those that want and can afford the latest ranges will still buy them; we fill a hole in the market for those that can’t afford them.”
Sports Traider has recently started operating from a 50,000 sq ft warehouse in Bedford in addition to its current warehousing facility in Leicester, which offers from 20,000 to one million sq ft of storage.
Haggith was also awarded the Unsung Hero award at last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony, a success which he said has opened a number of doors.
“I wasn’t expecting to win, but it has opened up a number of doors and got me into places that I couldn’t have got before. We’re now in a position to grow and we’re ready to expand.”
