Jamie Colston
Gulf Breeze, FL (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
Sports Connection
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Startup
Location:
Gulf Breeze
Industry:
Sports/Recreation
Year Founded:
2007
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
Sports Connection is a full service Sporting Goods retail and team sports company with locations in Gulf Breeze and Navarre Florida. Our Company offers a unique combination of providing needs to the youth, athletes and teams in the surrounding area while filling an overlooked area in the community. The Gulf Breeze store is the only one of its kind in the 32561 and 32563 zip code. We are the favorite provider for all the “local flavor” of the area teams and recreational parks. Along with being the main team sports company in the area, our Gulf Breeze store maintains the top of the line manufacturers in the retail industry. Sports Connection carries Under Armour, Adidas, Reebok, Rawlings, Wilson, Louisville Slugger, Easton, Mizuno, Alleson Athleic and many custom apparel companies recognzized in this business as industry leaders. Sports Connection unique approach allows them to work with several different market demographics.
As you will see from our Business Plan the market for our business is solid. In our first two years we have just begun to tap into the unlimited resources for future sales. Our basic make-up of sales is 30% retail and 70% outside sales. The purpose of our contacting your financial institution is to grow and expand in both of these areas. As you review the plan you will observe that the concept is unique and market is established. We are looking to take our concept to the 32566 zip code in Navarre Florida. Our mindset for taking this next step is two fold. Growth of the company in market share and sales is one obvious step, however along with this comes the protection of our retail lines. Let me take this time to explain the importance of this move and why it is very important to the future growth and longevity of this company. Sports Connection’s retail and team lines are the backbone of the company. At present we have all the lines necessary to maintain a successful retail and team sports concept. With the success of this concept it is feasible for another company to simulate what we have done and establish a presence in the 32566 zip code. The geographical distance of our Gulf Breeze “proper” location to the Navarre area is justification for our manufacturers to allow another company to establish the “lines” in this area. If we don’t take the proper steps the future growth of our company becomes immediately limited in the early years of Sports Connection being established. We have informed our manufacturers of our move the 32566 zip code and the response from each has been overwhelmingly positive. In their eyes it is much easier for an established company to have a bigger impact on a new area than a business just “starting’ in the area. Sports Connection in its initial two years has established a name for itself in this area. We have previously worked with many Navarre customers in the recreational parks, schools and clubs that define our market demographic. As we have informed them of our move to their area, once again the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Our plan with our Navarre store is to “mirror” the concept that has been successful in Gulf Breeze. The owners established the name “Sports Connection” as a description of our connection to the community. Our relationship with the local parks, schools and clubs has allowed us to connect in a manner that has been successful for both the community and our company. Indirectly Sports Connection has established this same connection with the Navarre area during this same first two years of business. The positive response was anticipated due to the owners relationship with the athletic community in the area. The move to the area is the next logical business move not only for people of the 32566 zip code, but for the growth of the company as well.
Opening our 2nd location in the Navarre area is just the beginning of the growth for Sports Connection. The largest parameter of sales for the company is the Outside sales aspect of the company. This has generated approximately 70% of the total sales in the first two years of business. As you will recognize in the sales forecast section of the plan, the upside 2 additonal full-time sales reps is exciting. The immediate impact on sales and market share will be shown in the business plan. The relationships our two sales man have with in the athletic community of our territory can not be understated. Outside sales is about trust and relationships. This is the basis of longevity in the sales environment. Both of the Outside salesman have roots in this area and extremely strong ties with coaches, athletic directors and decision makers that will immediately benefit both the salesman and Sports Connection. There is a brief personal history on both sales man in the business plan. Sports Connection is recognized in the panhandle and has established a solid reputation for its commitment to its customers. It is our responsibility to make our services available to every potential customer with in our territory. The most cost effective manner to achieve this is by the addition of outside sales representation. You will see in the business plan the positive immediate impact this will have on sales. During the first two years of business the responsibility of outside sales has fallen directly on the shoulders of Jamie Colston (one of the owners). Along with all the responsibilities that come with operating all aspects of a business, the outside sales has been limited to maximizing the upside of this aspect of the business.
In summary Sports Connection’s immediate planning includes the restructuring of present staff, the addition of retail space and the addition of outside sales force. As with any business, success depends on sales. Our business plan will show that these additions will increase sales substantially and will allow Sports Connection to grow and be an integral part of the Gulf Breeze and Navarre communities for many years.