In recent years there has been a frenzy of sporting goods stores mergers and acquisitions. This is good news and bad news for the consumer. The goods news is the ability for the larger sporting goods chains to adapt many of the smaller specialty stores qualities.

Given the specialty sporting goods stores learned how to adapt their products to the consumer almost dynamically; the major sporting goods stores have been able to incorporate the same ideas. The major sporting goods stores are better now at competing with specialty stores.

Next time you go to a Sports Authority or Dicks Sporting Goods look around at the new specialty products they carry. Even big box discount stores such as Walmart and Target have a greater offering of sporting goods.

But, you might want to evaluate the following when shopping a sporting goods store:

1. Do they specialize or carry an extensive selection for the sport you are interested in?

2. Can you find online coupons are any other special promotions?

3. Can you easily navigate the store and find what you are looking for?

Sporting goods stores are continuing to change given the consumer is becoming much more educated in the type, brand, and price of the sporting goods product they are looking for. The future success of any sporting goods store will be its ability to change and adapt with the consumer.