A store targeting outdoor enthusiasts should have a sporting chance of doing well in an adventure-packed place like Prince Edward Island.
Such has been the case for Sporting Intentions, which has been successfully courting a market ranging from hikers to skiers for more than 30 years.
“We have always believed if we provide a unique experience – that landing strip for our outdoor community – that we would be successful,’’ says Wes Slauenwhite, the store’s general manager. “People want to have an experience like they feel that they are valued.’’
Soon the store will be sporting a more modern and efficient interior when it moves into its third home, which is currently under construction.
Slauenwhite expects Sporting Intentions to have a soft opening in late summer and a grand opening in October as the sole occupant of a building it will own near Bed, Bath and Beyond on Malpeque Road in Charlottetown.
“For us, it’s really about continuing to firm up our place in the P.E.I. retail landscape,’’ he says.
The store first opened at 570 North River Rd. in the late ‘80s and moved a short hop up the street 14 years ago to its current location at 614 North River Rd.
Sporting Intentions leases a portion of the building, which it shares with other tenants. It currently has a staff of knowledgeable, enthusiastic outdoor types that range in age from 17 to 61.
Slauenwhite says the store was opened three decades ago with the anticipation of seeing participation in outdoor activities grow over the years.
It did, and the trend of people embracing healthy adventure away from the home is stronger than ever.
“P.E.I. is a fantastic paradise for outdoor enthusiasts,’’ adds Slauenwhite of a province that boasts a wealth of hiking, biking and Nordic ski trails not to mention an abundance of water for a variety of paddlers.
He says hikers and walkers are the top customers at Sporting Intentions, buying technical footwear and apparel to make their outdoor activity more enjoyable.
Enthusiasts of paddle sports, most notably kayaking, as well as alpine and nordic skiers, also beat a steady path to Sporting Intentions.
The product that really flies off the shelves, interestingly enough, are socks. The store sold almost 1,800 pairs in just the final quarter of 2019.
“If I had to name one product that is Sporting Intentions, it is technical and casual socks,’’ says Slauenwhite, adding a pair typically fetches $25 or more.
“And people just keep coming back for more.’’
