Franchising Today - Summer 2016 - 46
PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS www.playitagainsports.com / Headquarters: Minneapolis / Employees: 1,000 / Pat Quinn, director: "We're not standing still and waiting for everyone to find us." Winning Team Play It Again Sports' game plan is built on passionate franchisees and its unique concept. BY CHRIS PETERSEN T RETAIL HO RA N C HISE S F Even as the sporting goods segment struggles, Play It Again Sports continues to thrive and bring in new franchisees. With nearly 300 locations throughout North America, Play It Again Sports is one of the most successful sporting goods retail franchises, and Director Pat Quinn says that's because even among other sporting goods retailers Play It Again Sports stands apart due its unique concept of providing quality Used and competitively priced new sporting goods and fitness equipment. He says the brand's unique approach of buying and selling used sports equipment makes it valuable to its customers and very attractive to potential fran46 franchising-today.com SUMMER 2016 chisees. "I think what makes Play It Again Sports attractive is that it's a very unique concept," Quinn says. "There's really no other business that offers this type of value-driven concept to customers." Founded in 1983 in Minneapolis, Play It Again Sports started franchising in 1988, which led to the creation of what is now Winmark Corporation. Winmark franchises Play It Again Sports along with Once Upon a Child, Music Go Round, Plato's Closet and Style Encore. In addition to franchising those businesses, Winmark Corporation also operates leasing solutions in Winmark Capital and Wirth Business Credit. "Our mission at Winmark as a whole is really to help create, support and finance businesses," Quinn says. Although the sporting goods segment has experienced some instability in recent years - most notably with Sports Authority and Sports Chalet in liquidation now - Play It Again Sports continues to thrive, bringing new franchisees into the brand and experiencing consistent growth over the last several years. Quinn says the brand
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