ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601310001
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
For anyone who has ever wanted to take up a new sport but thought the cost of pads, bats and clubs was too steep, Charles "Chick" Duus, owner of Play It Again Sports, has a solution.
Play It Again Sports sells used sporting goods at an affordable price. The store also buys used sporting goods, accepts trade-ins and sells equipment on consignment.
"We really advertise that we'll buy back old sporting goods," Duus said. And that assurance pleases customers who know they can unload their old equipment when they want to upgrade or when their children outgrow such equipment as in-line skates. "Then, they can get some money back. I like it because it helps us keep up our stock."
Duus opened the Christiansburg store Nov. 30, 1994. He also owns a Roanoke location and has plans to open two more in Martinsville and Salem.
"The store has done better than we originally projected," Duus said. "I think it's because we fill a niche that no one else ever has. A lot of people are interested in used sporting goods because the price of new equipment can be pretty expensive."
In addition to used sporting goods, Play It Again Sports carries new equipment and can special order sporting goods at a price Duus claims is lower than most sporting goods retailers charge.
Many of his customers are people who are thinking about taking up a new sport, but don't want to spend a lot of money on equipment until they decide if they like it, Duus said.
"Golf is really a big seller for us, because it can be a costly sport," he said. "People come here because we can put them on course with everything they need to play - clubs, shoes and a bag - for a lot less than anyone else. Then if they decide they don't like it, they can always come in here and sell the equipment back."
Duus' stores are part of a national Play It Again Sports chain based in Minneapolis. The national chain's grass-roots hockey ties have given Duus his hottest selling product.
"We sell a lot of street hockey equipment. ... All you have to do is take a look around the store, and you can see that it is our biggest seller," Duus said. "When I opened the store, I knew the chain stressed hockey, but I never expected much of a hockey base in this area.
"The truth is there are a lot of people interested in the sport in this region, and we have sold a lot of equipment."
Hockey equipment became such a draw that Duus built a roller hockey rink in the empty warehouse behind the store. Duus said the rink has been used by a local roller hockey league, as well as the Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department's youth league.
"It's been nice having the rink in the back, because it gives the area kids a place to play," Duus said. "I have kids and have always backed them in the sports they wanted to play. The rink gives other kids a place to play and keeps them from getting into trouble on the streets."
Duus said Play It Again Sports' family-owned status keeps his store growing.
"Because we're a family-owned store, the community knows they are putting money back into the area when they shop here," Duus said.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Gene Dalton. Play It Again Sports co-owners Charlesby CNB"Chick" Duus and Tom Newbill at their store on U.S. 460 in
Christiansburg. color.