New business owners brave current market
September 1, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Jason Schaefer, owner of Golf USA, takes a swing in his business’ indoor driving range. Photo by J.B. Wogan
Recession or no, Ray McCorkle decided to open A-Game Sports in Inglewood Plaza in August. He said he believed the presence of three high schools in Sammamish would create a steady demand for sports apparel.
So far, it’s been a struggle.
“We’re breathing. It’s short breaths, but we’re breathing. We need more business,” McCorkle said.
It might seem crazy to open a new business in today’s retail market. People aren’t buying like they did a couple of years ago. The state Department of Revenue released figures in July that said taxable retail sales in King County were down 14.4 percent from last year — about $3.5 billion.
But at least three local entrepreneurs are braving the market anyway and opening new businesses in Sammamish.
McCorkle, who calls himself a “gym rat,” said he has bought advertising in local newspapers and in high school football booster programs, but he still needs to find ways to get the word out that his store exists.
Deb Sogge, executive director of the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce, said McCorkle’s problem wasn’t unusual.
“I think the number one challenge is getting the word out that they’ve opened,” Sogge said. Sogge said new business owners often approach her about marketing strategies.“They want to know, specifically, this is my demographic that I’m attracting. How do I attract that?” she said
McCorkle’s 2,000-square-foot store, run by a three-person staff, provides general sports equipment and clothing, he said. He said he hopes to position his business to provide the team apparel for local recreational sports teams, as well as the school-sponsored programs.
While McCorkle’s store is the only new general sports store in Sammamish, all three of the plateau’s new businesses this year have fitness in common.
Amy Frank-Lewallen opened Fitness Together in February in the Pine Lake Shopping Center, in a 966-square-foot space that used to be a Blockbuster Video.
In Frank-Lewallen’s case, she said she had been waiting to open the business for two years but for permitting reasons, had to open now.
“I would never have opened at this time otherwise,” she said.
Fitness Together provides one-on-one personal training with two exercise rooms. The front lobby has three machines for a cardio-vascular workout, though the back rooms also have two functional trainer machines, dumbbells, exercise balls and latex bands. Frank-Lewallen has owned two Fitness Together businesses in the past, one in Woodinville and one in Issaquah. (She still owns half of the Woodinville business.)
“I was just worried that people were cutting back on expenses and wouldn’t see the value in fitness,” Frank-Lewallen said.
But business has been good to her; surprisingly so, she said. The Sammamish Fitness Together receives has about 50 clients a month, she said.
Jason Schaefer, manager of Golf USA, opened up his 4,000-square-foot storefront May 15. The golf-specific sports store replaced Sleep 101.
Golf USA, run by a three-person staff, has a synthetic putting green and an indoor driving range, plus golf equipment and apparel.
Schaefer said the current economy didn’t worry him.
“With good quality and good service, people will still spend money on golf equipment,” he said.
Schaefer, a Sammamish resident who lives behind Skyline High School, said he thought there was a latent demand for a golf store on the plateau. There are two golf courses in Sammamish and all three high schools field both girls and boys golf teams.
Schaefer also pointed out that the Men’s Senior U.S. Open is scheduled to take place at the Sahalee Country Club in 2010. That, too, should drum up interest in his store, he said.
Before summer ends, one more new business could grace the plateau: Galliano’s Cucina.
The Italian restaurant is scheduled to open in September according to Sogge. It would replace DC’s Grill in the Saffron shopping center, which closed this summer.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
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