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THE RUN INN KERRISDALE
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Celebrating 30 Years
It has been 30 years since The Run Inn opened in Kerrisdale. The running (“runinn”) store has become a go-to shop for top-notch personal service and expertly fitted shoes. In June, the Kerrisdale store will celebrate its 30th anniversary and the Tsawwassen location will celebrate its 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, The Run Inn will produce commemorative t-shirts and hold a sale.
Chris Cole is one of the three owners and founding partners of The Run Inn. He and Steve Nobbs work at the Kerrisdale store, and Kevin Ridley works at the Tsawwassen location.
The Run Inn continued to thrive during the pandemic.
During the early days of the pandemic, the partners had to rethink the way the store operated when businesses temporarily closed and subsequently had to limit the number of people in the store.
Chris says, “People were extremely loyal to their local shops; they continued to support the business by calling in and picking up their orders.”
It presented them with an opportunity to take a deeper dive into e-commerce and in turn, this has expanded their customer base. The Run Inn is launching a new website in late April which will be commerce based. Chris says, “This is just the tip of the iceberg with online sales.”
With little to do during the spring of 2020, many people threw themselves into outdoor activities, and similarly, with gym closures, people looked for new sports to try. The shop’s running club experienced an increase in memberships. Chris says, “It was a silver lining; we were pleasantly surprised.”
Chris says, “The Run Inn is committed to providing the service of fitting footwear. Different running shoes are made to accommodate various foot types and people’s biomechanics. Only a specialty shop like The Run Inn can address this.”
Our best-selling shoes are Brooks, New Balance, On and HOKA.
On is a relative newcomer to the market, getting its start in Switzerland in 2010. On’s lightweight, fully cushioned design was driven by a goal to produce soft landings and explosive take-offs.
HOKA hails from France. The co-founders’ goal was to improve endurance race times by designing a shoe that went downhill faster. In doing so, they say, “We inadvertently reinvented the running shoe.”
In addition to making great shoes, On also makes performance apparel which Chris refers to as “five star running wear.”
Lululemon needs no introduction, as it is a household name in our fair city where it was founded in 1998. The brand can now be purchased in 17 countries. Lululemon's fabrics are technical and wicking, yet comfortable, and lightweight.
Vuori is a newcomer to the market. This premium activewear and athletic clothing company launched in 2015 and is based in Encinitas, California. The company prides itself on quality, ethical manufacturing, and sustainability. Chris says, “It is really nice clothing. We can’t keep it on the shelves.”
The Run Inn’s owners believe in a strong community and are committed to giving back. The Run Inn is celebrating another milestone this year; 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the annual Run Inn the Woods. This fundraiser has raised $230,000 to date and benefits the BC Cancer Foundation. The event takes place in Pacific Spirit Park at the end of the year.
The Run Inn the Woods remembers and celebrates various people who have been associated with the shop and have lost their lives to cancer.
If you are looking for a recreational and social group to join, The Run Inn’s Saturday Morning Running Club may be the perfect fit. The runs are low key, and the routes vary from week to week. Twice a year half marathon training is incorporated into the Saturday morning runs for those runners who want to train for a spring or fall half marathon. Half marathon training is built into the January to May runs and the July to October runs.
Three pace groups are offered to accommodate the different levels of runners that come out to run. Each group has a leader who sets the pace and leads the route. The annual club membership is $150.
One of Chris’ favourite runs is Pacific Spirit Park, which he calls paradise. He also loves the False Creek seawall and trails around Dunbar Southlands.
Thirty years of operating a business is a true measure of success. Chris is grateful for a career that is connected to living an active lifestyle.
He says, “We have created an environment that doesn’t feel like work. It’s the perfect work/ life balance. We enjoy being able to share our passion and help our customers reach their fitness goals.”
He and his partners are thankful for their customers who have supported them over the last 30 years. Chris concludes, “Customer loyalty has got us where we are today.”
The Run Inn Vancouver
2331 W 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6M 2A7 Phone 604-267-7866
www.runinn.com
