Retail news : Fleet Feet Partners with Maine Running Company

Fleet Feet, Inc., the franchiser of running specialty stores, said John Rogers has partnered with Fleet Feet and will convert his two Maine Running Company stores into Fleet Feet Sports stores.  This will allow Rogers to align his business with a national brand and tap into the resources and support that come with being a part of the franchise.

Fleet Feet Sports will gain a strong regional operator and brand presence in upper New England.

"John has a great retail mind and we look forward to working with him to strengthen our organization and build the brand in New England," said Jeff Phillips, President and CEO of Fleet Feet, Incorporated.  "Our values and the way we think about the business are in complete alignment and this type of partnership allows us to work together to grow the brand in new and innovative ways."  He continued, "With Maine Running Company, we immediately add two successful, high volume stores that are entrenched in the community."

John Rogers originally opened Maine Running Company in Portland in 2005 and added a Brunswick location in 2009.  Over the years, Rogers has had the opportunity to work closely with many Fleet Feet Sports franchisees, including Ed Griffin in Syracuse, New York, and has been impressed by the support of local ownership that Fleet Feet Sports affords its independent franchise owners.

In early 2013, Rogers and Fleet Feet Sports began discussions about the opportunity to align, partner and work together. After careful evaluation, John determined that a partnership made sense because of the tools and support the Fleet Feet Sports team provides to drive growth. This partnership also allows Maine Running Company's two stores to remain locally owned and operated which was critical to the success of the deal and has been the backbone of the running specialty industry for forty years.

"I have spent a lot of time with the team at Fleet Feet and I can see that we share an alignment and vision for the future of the run specialty channel," said John Rogers.  "Working with them is similar to hiring multiple resources to help us take our business to the next level and provide additional opportunities for our employees.  Additionally, their model, like ours, is built on local ownership, customer experience and community outreach.  Long term, Fleet Feet feels as strongly as I do about continuing local ownership for our business and continuing to support our community for many years to come."

With 112 locations in 34 states and the District of Columbia, Fleet Feet, Incorporated offers support to its local store owners out of its corporate headquarters in Carrboro, NC.

By press release through sportsonesource.