GRTS News
Sports retailer Gart <GRTS.O> plans Internet sales
(Reuters 02/11 14:43:01)
ATLANTA, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Leading U.S. sporting goods
retailer, Gart Sports Co., plans to make its merchandise
available on the Internet this year, its chief executive
officer said on Thursday.
"Our focus is going to be to try to produce something that
will create an electronic commerce department, one that we
believe will be profitable," CEO Doug Morton said during a
presentation to financial analysts.
When pressed by analysts attending the SuperShow
sporting-goods trade meeting about details of the website,
Morton refused to elaborate. "We talk among ourselves but we're
not going to talk in public," he said.
Morton said Gart, which last year acquired Supermart Inc.,
spent 1998 consolidating the vendor base of the two
sporting-goods retailers. Both operate large stores.
Gart had also sought a merger with the Sports Authority
<TSA.N>, another large box retailer, but was rebuffed.
Gart is the second largest full-line sporting goods
retailer in the United States, operating in the western and
central parts of the country.
Morton said Gart anticipates opening five to six stores in
1999, all in California and Colorado.
Gart now has 122 stores in 16 states, operating under the
names Gart Sports and Sportmart.
((- June Preston, Atlanta newsroom - 404-870-7340))
REUTERS |
