Going concern

Bob Sartor, CA CEO,
The Forzani Group

Company profile: In 1974, Calgary StampederJohn Forzani and three team mates opened a 1,200-sq.-ft. retail store specializing in athletic footwear and called it Forzani’s Locker Room. Today, The Forzani Group, based in Calgary, is Canada’s largest and exclusive national retailer of sporting goods, with 13,000 employees in 470 stores under corporate and franchise banners that generate revenues closing in on $1 billion a year.

HOT FACTOR: Fiscal 2007 first-quarter results continued the turnaround that The Forzani Group enjoyed in its third quarter and record fourth quarter 2006. For the 13 weeks of the second quarter ended July 30, overall same-store sales were up 6% and revenue was up $40.4 million, or 16.6% over the comparable period last year. The company, which operates under the corporate banners of Sport Chek, Coast Mountain Sports, Sport Mart and National Sports, and seven franchises, including Nevada Bob’s Golf, Sports Experts, Atmosphere and RnR, accounts for 18% of the Canadian sporting goods retailing market.

Cool projects: Acquired nine Fitness Source stores, opened 15 locations, updated Sport Chek andSport Mart stores. Sport Chek teamedup with Ski Canada Magazine to create Skiers’ Gear Guide. Sales associates have become product gurus and newmerchandising experts were hired.

In his own words: “In my position,I have to consider what would be good for the company down the road and what’s best for the quarter. I must admit long-term thinking beats short-term thinking for me every time.It’s the most reliable route to success.”

Lorie Murdoch