We here at Sport Seasons just celebrated our 25th Anniversary of our original store’s opening. Much has changed, but a few things remain the same from the early days. We’re still locally owned, still catering to our local audience, and still growing.

One of the folks who has been around here for a good while is our administrator in chief, Joy. Recently, I asked her about the changes she’s seen in the company. Her responses were great!

Dan: You’ve been at Sport Seasons since it’s early days, what is the biggest change you’ve seen in the products SS has carried?
Joy: In the very beginning, our product mix was much different. We carried free weights, workout equipment, and tennis rackets. We even had a machine to string tennis rackets, but we didn’t keep it long enough for me to learn how to use it. Nike was one of the first lines we carried, but we started out as a tennis specialty account. Lots and lots of Agassi and Bollettieri stuff. It was incredible; I wish I had kept a few of my favorites from those lines. It was 1988, and we had this awesome line of 88 Olympic t-shirts.

It didn’t take long to listen to our customers and change our product line. The equipment went out, and we started carrying a more diverse line of footwear and workout apparel, and started to carry team gear. It was the beginning of what Sport Seasons is today.

Dan: Nashville is an expanding and growing metro area. With more stores around to serve the areas, what did we do back then to serve our customers better with more inventory?
Joy: We opened our second store in 1990, and right from the start we established customer transfers. We had a Mazda van, actually I think at one point we had two. We’d run merchandise back and forth between our stores any time a customer needed us to. I’ve always loved this about Sport Seasons – we’ve been offering this service for 25 years, with no plans to ever stop.

Dan: 1994 was an important year, highlighted by expanding to Knoxville. (And added a second store in 1996). How important has having a second base of operations and a second city to draw from been to the success of SS?
Joy: The Beam family that owns Sport Seasons is from Knoxville, so it was natural for us to expand to Knoxville. I think it was important for them to be in Knoxville. Not just because it’s a great city, and of course you have the University of Tennessee and such a great fan base, but because of the importance of supporting your home town as a local business owner. Our stores create jobs, and we get to give back to the local community.

Dan: The internet sales are the next frontier, and have come a long way since the 90s. Being a local business that caters to its clientele locally, how has the site been able to take steps forward?
Joy: Things are constantly changing in e-commerce. We tend to be a little old-school and were slower to adapt than most, but we are really enjoying being online now. While it’s allowed us to expand our business, even more importantly it’s allowed us to better serve our local customers. Something really special is when get a thank you or email note from a Nashville or Knoxville native that’s been transplanted across the country telling us how wonderful it is to be able to place an order through us online. It’s just incredibly meaningful to us.

Dan: The company received a shot in the arm in the late 1990s with two professional sports teams moving to the Nashville area. How much did the addition of the Titans and Predators influence the direction of the store?
Joy: Wow, yes, it’s hard to believe that when Sport Seasons opened, we didn’t have the Preds or the Titans. We certainly responded to our customer base and carry as much as we can to fill the needs and desires of the fans. Both teams are a terrific addition to our city, and we love to be able to support them.

Dan: What does the future hold for Sport Seasons? Anything you can share with us?
Joy: Twenty five years is a long time to be in business. There have been many changes in our product mix, our staff, our customer base, you name it. It’s been a tough economy for a small, locally owned business to thrive in. There is a great deal of competition from big box stores. We’ve had to really watch expenses and payroll just like every other small business.

One thing that we are focusing strongly on right now is getting back to even better customer service. Our customers are our focus, and with all of the challenges we’ve faced during the recent years, we’ve lost just a little bit of that focus. Our customers are why we are here, we are so thankful for them and we are determined to provide the best service we possibly can.

Dan: It’s been 25 years, and we’re still here. What advice would you give other locally owned businesses in growing metro areas?
Joy: Hire good people and create great relationships. We have employees on staff that have been with us for 10, 15, 20 and 25 years. These are the people that support you when you don’t even realize they are doing it. They understand the mission, they know the history and how hard we’ve worked to get where we are.

And be ready for change. Everything changes. It’s a different world than it was 25 years ago, and back then we couldn’t imagine where we are now.

Dan: Lastly, what’s your favorite product from when you first started here, and do we still carry it?
Joy: I admit, back in the day I loved the Nike Air Max, blue and white. Those were awesome shoes. I love that Nike brought them back as part of their retro line. Reminds me how old I’ve gotten, but I still love it.

There are many types of ‘hat guy’. There is “wear a different hat every day of the month” hat guy. There is also “wear one hat until it falls apart” hat guy. Currently I’m working on outlasting a Predators Palmetto hat until it becomes a pile of cotton and thread. It’s been over a year, and it’s still going. I fall into the latter category.

Where ’47 Brand does some of their best work for is college sports. This year is no exception, and with a few new styles. Since image and text don’t do these awesome styles justice, we decided to have a closer look at these. And this is coming from a guy who wears hats until they no longer presentable (current hat has seen 6 states, and dozens of games, concerts, etc).

The Saluki

It’s grey on grey, so it’s made to go with whatever team gear you wear. No “does my orange/crimson match” questions need to be asked. It’s a flex-fit, so it’s a comfy snug fit no matter when your last haircut was. This hat is extremely soft, and slides on and off easily.

The embroidery is stellar as always, but doesn’t come across as bulky.

The Underhill

This mesh is softer than a stuffed animal I had when I was a kid. It’s also a flex-fit, which works great with the mesh. The subtle text and framing of the logo works great with the team color. Also, we have a few of these in MLB teams as well.

The Franchise/The Clean-Up

This is the hat that has made ’47 famous. (And we have a unique history with the Tennessee Volunteers model we’ll have to visit before too long) It fits easy, and features a great embroidered logo on the front. The Franchise is fitted by size (S, M, L, XL) while the Clean-Up is adjustable. The Franchise will have a secondary logo or text in the back, while the Clean-Up will have a team slogan over the opening.

There will be more on the way, so we’ll keep you updated on their latest offerings. Their baseball lineup is just now hitting our shelves, and their football catalog is en route as well.

This video by Takayuki Akachi of Tokyo is just lovely. He describes the concept behind the video as “taking steps from all over the world”. And, who doesn’t love a pair of Asics Onituka Tiger Mexico 66′s on the escalator in the very first scene?

Hey look, it's our Murfreesboro store!

Sport Seasons is looking for new team members in our Murfreesboro store. We are a locally owned and operated company, and we’ve got the quirks and challenges that come with it. To be part of our team, you have to learn fast, jump in and ask questions. You have to be able to multi-task with an emphasis on accuracy. You have to really enjoy engaging with customers and helping find what they need while keeping up with the rest of your tasks. Good customer service is top priority ~ our customers are the reason we’ve been in business for 25 years. You need to be able to see the big picture, work with strong personalities and handle challenges without missing a beat. You have to be able to stay busy, see what needs doing without being told and requiring extensive supervision. Most of all, you need to be ready to sell some shoes, athletic and team gear. It’s why we are here.

We have a few full and part time positions open at our Murfreesboro store. Retail experience is preferred, interest and experience in running or personal fitness is a plus. Must be able to work nights/weekends.

We offer a flexible schedule, some of our best and brightest staff worked their way through college with us. Days, nights and weekends are required, this is not a 9 to 5. Good pay, good benefits for full time positions and a great employee discount for everyone.

Please email your resume, and include your availability to wecare@sport-seasons.com

Thank you for your interest!

The woman in the dressing room next to you is jumping up and down and you think there may be some kind of heavy breathing going on? What in the world (as we say in the south)?? Get your mind out of the gutter, she’s testing out a sport bra by running in place and it’s the sixth bra she’s tried on. That, ladies and gentlemen, is dedication to finding a good sports bra.

Why is it so important? Two good reasons in three words: Comfort and sag. Comfort, because you want to be able to focus on what you’re doing in the bra, not on the bra. And, number two, the breasts are held in place by ligaments. These ligaments do not return to their original length after being stretched. Think of an overstretched elastic cord. These ligaments are the same. Exercise causes more movement of the breast, thus, without support these ligaments are being stretched further, contributing to sagging.

How high impact is the activity you are doing? Low, medium, high? The more movement, the more support you will need to minimize the stress on “the girls”. Women with larger chests will need more support.

Size

Measure at the area just below your breast, where your bra’s bottom band normally sits.  Make sure the tape is snug but not too snug, making it hard to breath. Round your measurement to the nearest inch.  Find your size in the chart below.

Now measure around the fullest part of your breast. Round that number to the closest number. Subtract that number from your first measurement, where you measured under your breasts, from the measurement around your breasts. With that number, determine your cup size.

Cup

Make sure the cup fits properly. Your breasts should be fully held inside of the bra. Spillage is a sign the bra is too small. In sports bras, there are two primary types of cups.

• Encapsulation- This cup type separates each breast to cushion a support them individually. These bras tend to be offered in cup sizes, offering better fit. May be a better option for larger chested women. Encapsulation bras tend to look more like an everyday bra.
• Compression- Both breast are housed together and “compressed”, restricting their movement. Compression styles are better for smaller sizes (A-B).

While not a true third type….Some manufactures have created bras that are a hybrid of the two styles that can be worn by smaller to medium size chested women looking for the support they need.

Band

Why is the band important? This is where the main source of support in a sport bra exists. The band should not move during movement. Try stretching your arms overhead. Does the band move significantly? If so, try on a smaller size. Also, you want a band to be snug, but never to where it’s uncomfortable or restricts your breathing.

• Wider-A wider band gives you more support.
• Narrower-A narrower band gives you less support.

Should you purchase a bra with hook and eyelet closures, remember, the bra will stretch as you break it in. If you have to hook it at the last position just trying it on, when it stretches after use, where are you going to go? Buy a bra that fits at either the first or middle of the closures.

Straps

For the most support, look for wider straps as well as Racerback style straps. Depending on comfort and preference, there are bras that have cushioned straps and bras that have adjustable length straps. Adjustable straps may come in handy if you’re using this bra during a weight loss program.

Other Details

• If you get a sports bra with an underwire, make sure it will not cause you discomfort. Are the wires poking you? Bad sign.
• Moisture wicking fabrics are very important to a good sports bra because a wet bra is an uncomfortable bra. 100% Cotton fabrics will stay wet instead of drying quickly.

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Review Time

So, now armed with this information, a couple of us decided to check out our selection and test drive a couple of bras.

For the A/B Ladies

Women’s Nike Pro Essentials Compression Sports Bra

Pros: This bra was comfortable. It seems to run a little bigger than the comparable Women’s Under Armour Endure Sports Bra. It is classic Nike Dri-FIT so it will keep you staying dry. It comes in a myriad of colors and prints. Nike also offers coordinating compression shorts and capris, which are a hit with the ladies who love their matching workout gear.

Cons: The material, while soft and comfy, was thin. That is great for breathability but in white, it was sheerer than some would want to wear alone.

For the C/D Ladies

Women’s Under Armour Protégée D Cup Bra

Pros: This bra scored well. It is an encapsulated style and was very comfortable. It did what a good sports bra should do, minimal movement, which may be harder to find the larger the size. Too, the bra offered a front zipper, which is great come time to take off the bra. We’ve all been there, the “this is more awkward than it should be” moment trying to take a sports bra off.

Cons: Price, which seems to be the case with many of the bras made for larger chest sizes. The bra came in at $49.99, so there is some investment.