Geneva Business Among Top 50 Best Running Stores in America

Geneva Running Outfitters has been recognized as one of The 50 Best Running Stores in America® by two leading trade and consumer publications: Running Insight and Competitor Magazine.

The business at 221 W. State St. took its place among the country’s elite retailers following an extensive nomination and review process throughout 2013. The judging culminated in the store’s recognition at a gala awards ceremony Dec. 5 in Austin, TX, as part of The Running Event, an annual conference and trade expo for specialty running retailers.

The 50 Best Running Stores in America awards program and The Running 
Event® are registered trademarks of Formula 4 Media, LLC, Great Neck, N.Y. The awards program is co-sponsored by Competitor Magazine, a publication of Competitor Group, Inc. 

GRO was selected after a rigorous vetting process that rated the store on its service, product knowledge, merchandising and its community service. Geneva Running Outfitters will be featured in a special issue of Competitor magazine distributed nationally.

The store will also receive a commemorative plaque to mark the award. Each of the 50 Best winners will also share the award with consumers via a special window sign supplied by Competitor that indicates the store as a 50 Best 2013 winner. 

“Specialty retailers are the heart and soul of the running business and it was a pleasure and privilege to recognize these stores for their excellence in customer service and community support,” said Mark Sullivan, editor of Running Insight, a Formula 4 Media publication. “The 50 Best Running Stores in America represent the best that the running business has to offer in terms of customer satisfaction and superior retailing.” 

The process of compiling a list of the top 50 running shops in the country began early in 2013 when Formula 4 Media, with the help of Competitor Magazine, began to collect and evaluate nominations from runners, soliciting feedback from consumers on their favorite running stores. More than 150 stores received nominations. A panel of industry experts from Franklin Resource Group mystery shop nominated stores to evaluate on 20 different aspects of retailing, including product knowledge, environment and community involvement. 

A special report on The 50 Best Running Stores in America appears in the December issue of Competitor Magazine.