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I've been in REI and I've been in BPS. BPS is not my kind of store....it is too focused on hunting, guns and knives.....basic Coleman camping gear. Not my speed at all.
I MUCH prefer the more urban explorer attitude of REI......the clothing brands and better brands of camping / kayaking gear.
The two chains DEFINTELY target two different and distinct demographics, sort of like Wal-Mart and Target. I fall into the REI/Target demographic.
I agree. I like both, but not for the same things. They carry some similar products, but at a completely different level.
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There is plenty of opportunity for a Cabela's to open in our area now that BPS has passed us up. The nearest one is in Louisiana, so the southeast area is wide open for them.
I'm familiar with both stores. Apart from a vague "outdoor recreation" label, you really can't compare Bass Pro Shop and REI. Unless you mean fly fishing, REI carries no hunting or fishing supplies, which is obviously Bass Pro Shop's bread and butter. REI is the go to place for rock climbing/snow skiing/kayaking/bicycling equipment and accessories. I think Bass Pro would do more business here.
I think Bass Pro Shops will do well in Asheville considering the region's numerous outdoor recreational opportunities and steady flow of tourists. It will certainly be a significant shot in the arm for their struggling local economy and Biltmore Square Mall has a staggering 40% vacancy rate. For most Upstate residents, the drive is much shorter and more pleasant than traveling north of Charlotte.
As mentioned elsewhere, Greenville is already heavily saturated by multiple large outdoor sports stores, so it would have been tough to justify adding another major brand to the mix.
Having said that, there are other big names out there, like Gander Mountain, Cabela's, and Sportsman's Warehouse. I'd personally love to see an Orvis outfitter shop or one similar to it somewhere in town (preferably downtown).
As mentioned elsewhere, Greenville is already heavily saturated by multiple large outdoor sports stores, so it would have been tough to justify adding another major brand to the mix.
Greenville is saturated by too many basic sporting goods stores: Academy Sports and Outdoors, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Sports Authority. It does not have any large outdoor sports stores yet. Small independent stores do not count.
The rumor of Bass Pro Shops coming to the Asheville market is for that region. Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina are two separate regions. It is possible for Bass Pro Shops to open a store in the upstate, but it will need to be in a location with some distance away from Greenville.
Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop's direct competitor, is yet to expand its footprint into the Carolinas.
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