Why Manchester Running Company is Your Logical Choice

Manchester, CT is home to the Buckland Hills Mall, a large, indoor shopping mall known for its abundant chain stores and restaurants. The mall and the immediate area include several national sporting good chains including: Champs Sports, Footlocker Men, Bob’s, Footlocker Women, Dick’s, and Sports Authority. These chains, while superior in name recognition, offer nothing to the customer that Manchester Running Company does offer. In fact, these outlets offer less.

Contrary to popular perception, pricing at national chains are either equivalent to or negligibly less than the prices offered at Manchester Running Company and other specialty running shoe stores. This reasoning behind this perception goes something like this: because the retail giants purchase a grater number of units from suppliers, they receive a discount on their orders and pass the savings on to their customers. However, a price-point comparison proves otherwise. The Asics Gel 2030’s sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Manchester, CT sell for $75.00. The very same shoe sells at Fleet Feet sports in West Hartford, CT for exactly the same price. The Asics Gel Kayano, the high-end Asics training shoe, retails at Dick’s for $130.00, and $135.00 at the Run-In in Rockyhill, CT. A savings of less than 5% is hardly a reason to brave the overwhelmingly inconsistent and crowded national service outlets.

There is also a misperception that large outlet stores offer “more.” While the showcase square footage is greater, and the warehouses are larger, the actual space and attention dedicated to a specific sport like Running, is actually less than that offered at Manchester Running Company. An entire wall of shoes looks impressive at a store like Dicks or Footlocker, however, only a fraction of the entire stock makes sense for running or walking purposes. In addition to basketball shoes, large retail outlets pack their stores with “fashion shoes.”  I refer here to the footwear that celebrities wear to complete an ensemble. While the abundance of footwear looks impressive, it is not functional or specific to the purposes of running and walking for fitness, or racing for competition. The idea that large retail stores offer “more” is true in only one sense: they offer more distraction and fluff, but do not offer more substance and value.

Manchester Running Company will offer over 80 unique running and walking shoes from the top 8 most trusted and durable suppliers. Nike, Asics, New Balance, Puma, Brooks, Adidas, Saucony, and Reebok  will be featured at Manchester Running Company. The stock will be categorized based on the potential needs of the customers. Each person has a unique body composition, foot strike, and foot shape. Manchester Running Company will offer shoes that will decrease the risk of injury and discomfort for their customers by fitting them with the appropriate shoe. A full range of motion control, stability, and neutral shoes in varying widths will be available to the customers at Manchester Running Company. A part-time, licensed physical therapist will be on staff and will ensure the quality of expertise and advice given to customers. Additionally, Manchester Running Company will be the hub of the running and walking community for central and eastern Connecticut. The services offered at Manchester Running Company will go beyond providing top of the line and relevant products and customer attention, to serving as an information hub on local events; providing injury prevention, training, and racing clinics; sponsoring fun runs, and competitive races; and using our collective knowledge and passion to service current customers, and build a new, stronger, more diversified customer base. Take a moment to compare the litany of services offered by Manchester Running Company.  You will get great services,  training advice from professional coaches, expert advice, and specialized fittings for your unique foot, not to mention the feeling of camaraderie from participating in our running clubs!  At a large retail outlet, you can expect to purchase your shoes from an ill-informed, impatient staff member devoted to squeezing the most money out of your pocketbook as possible.

Because large, national chains aim to serve such a wide variety of customers, the quality of that service is diminished. The proportion of sales in running and walking gear at a store like Sports Authority or Dick’s is minimal, and so is the proportion of customer service and staff expertise. An experience at Manchester Running Company is equivalently priced, more convenient, and is more broadly enriching than an experience at a national retail chain. Come to our store and put us to the test: we will effectively dislodge the old myth that large retail chains offer more for less and show that Manchester Running Company is value without sacrifice.