Dick's Sporting Goods 2013 Annual Report Download - page 36

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Competition
The market for sporting goods retailers is highly fragmented and intensely competitive. The retail sporting goods industry
comprises five principal categories:
• Large Format Sporting Goods Stores and Chains;
• Traditional Sporting Goods Stores and Chains;
• Specialty and Vendor Stores;
• Mass Merchants and Department Stores; and
• Internet and Catalog-Based Retailers.
Large Format Sporting Goods Stores
The large format stores generally range from 20,000 to 100,000 square feet and offer a broad selection of sporting goods
merchandise. We believe that our strong performance with the large format store in recent years is due in part to our unique
approach in blending the best attributes of a large format store with the best attributes of a specialty shop.
Traditional Sporting Goods Stores
These stores generally range from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet and are frequently located in regional malls and multi-store
shopping centers. Although they typically carry a varied assortment of merchandise, these stores offer a more limited product
assortment than our stores. We believe these stores do not cater to the sports enthusiast.
Specialty and Vendor Stores
These stores generally range from 2,000 to 20,000 square feet and typically focus on a specific category, such as athletic
footwear, or an activity, such as golf or skiing. Certain specialty stores that focus on a group of related activities can have
significantly larger square footage footprints and be designed as destination stores. In addition, several sporting goods brands,
many of which we sell in our stores, also sell their products direct to consumers through their own retail stores and internet
operations. While these stores may offer a deep selection of products within their specialty or across a single brand, they lack
the wide range of products or brand selection that we offer. We believe prices at these stores typically tend to be higher than
prices at the large format sporting goods stores and traditional sporting goods stores.
Mass Merchants and Department Stores
These stores generally range from 50,000 to over 200,000 square feet and are primarily located in shopping centers,
freestanding sites or regional malls. Sporting goods merchandise and apparel represent a small portion of the total merchandise
in these stores and the selection is often more limited than in other sporting goods retailers. Although Wal-Mart is currently the
largest retailer of sporting goods as measured by sales, we believe that mass merchants' limited selection, particularly with
well-known brand names, combined with the reduced service levels typical of a mass merchandiser, limit their ability to meet
the needs of sporting goods customers. Department stores may have more selection from well-known brands in athletic apparel
and footwear than mass merchants, but do not typically carry hardline equipment for the sporting goods customer.
Internet and Catalog-Based Retailers
These retailers either focus on a specific category or activity or sell a full line of sporting goods through the use of the Internet
and/or catalogs. We believe that the relationships we have developed with our suppliers and customers through our retail stores,
our growing eCommerce business, our omni-channel capabilities and our merchandise offerings, including a wide range of
exclusive and private brand products, provide us with a significant advantage over Internet-only and catalog-based retailers.
Employees
As of February 1, 2014, we employed approximately 11,200 full-time and 23,100 part-time associates. Due to the seasonal
nature of our business, total employment figures fluctuate throughout the year and typically peaks during the fourth quarter.