2 minute read
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT NOW
from NSGA NOW - July/August 2021
by NSGA
GIVE ME 5 WITH Jerry Lavender
Getting Started
In June 1973 I was going into my senior year of high school and got a part-time job with Brumley’s Sports and owner Bill Brumley and never looked back. His wife and family were a big part of the business. I remember him going to the NSGA trade show in Chicago and sharing everything he had seen. I worked my way through Mississippi State and accepted a management position with Brumley’s. I learned the business from a man who showed great integrity while serving the coaches and many athletic teams that came through our doors.
Opening Sports Specialty
In 1989, Mr. Brumley sold the store and I left in 1991. I set up a screen shop, bought a six-head Barudan machine and a computerized engraving machine (both of which are still in operation today), and Sports Specialty was born. I soon hired 3 employees and hit the ground hard. Three years later the former store closed and I bought the building and inventory from the bank. I was back in the sporting goods business full throttle.
Evolving over 30 years
Delivering the best product to our customers for a fair price and on time is key. The integrity of our business is extremely important to us. As a high school and junior college football official of 36 years, I fully understand this principle. We were at one time a group of 3 stores in 3 cities with 6 roadmen and $5 million in sales. We trimmed that to one store, 2 roadmen and $3 million in sales. Bigger is not always better. We made changes to truly customize all our orders in house.
Truly a Family Business
My wife Beth joined me early on and we put together a team. We hired Jon Burt not long out of college and he is the best team salesman in the state. Courtney Campbell was an accounting major fresh out of school and we brought in another young man, Ben Sims, as our graphic artist. Ray Jordan was hired as an inside salesman and store manager and Tyler Turner as a purchasing agent. All of them are still with us with exception of my sister Margie Fromm, one of the original three who retired a few years back at 67. We have added three of our children - Leigh (trophies, awards, laser machine and cadcut), Elizabeth (online stores, website) and Steven (inside team and Internet sales). There are 18 employees and our printers and sewers have been here long-term and are some of the best in the business.
Membership Benefits
We are now proud members of Sports Inc. It has been a tremendous help to our success and along with NSGA it has strengthened our position in the marketplace. NSGA keeps us informed of the ever-changing world of athletics and brings us a much-needed source of credibility to our customers, old and new alike, hopefully for another 30 years.
