Too Small For An ERP?

By Matt Pillar, chief editor

November 2014 Integrated Solutions For Retailers

Sports Basement runs five stores with a sixth on the way. Is the retailer too small for SAP?

The growth stage is an invigorating time for a specialty retailer. You’re small, you’re nimble, and if you’re good, you exude that magnetic cool factor in the communities you serve. That’s certainly true of Sports Basement, the 14-year-old San Francisco Bay area operator of five specialty sporting goods stores that cater to the region’s legions of athletes. The retailer’s roomy stores with their unique airy ambience serve as a gathering place for local athletes and outdoor adventure enthusiasts, many of whom exhibit a rabid enthusiasm for the brand that simply can’t be found by customers of the big-box national chains. It’s tightly managed and carefully selected staff of associates is comprised primarily of competitive athletes who run the run as well as they talk the talk.

While the company culture that oozes out during the customer experience at Sports Basement is unique, the retailer’s distinction from the big-box sporting goods stores ends with its retail systems. The company recently transitioned from a POS system tailored for small retailers to an SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which CIO and partner David Rumberg says will position his company for expansion.