The big box stores, with the help of the consumer (that would be us), are killing the small sporting goods store as they have eliminated the wholesale level. In the short term, there were pricing advantages but once the need for competition was gone, that ended. Small makers of high quality goods either closed down or moved production to China.
I find it fascinating, at stores like Bass Pro, they make attempts to recreate old time stores; trying to imitate the business models they worked to eliminate. GD
