Louis Sport


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Latest features Forthcoming features Subscriptions Job classifieds Tweet June/July 2010 Retailer showcase: Reasons for Louis’ Sports’ success: Bolze and Bouwer were born in Queenstown and have lived there all their lives — everybody in town knows them and this keeps them on their toes as bad service or faulty equipment will not only cost them clients, but could also cost them friends; As a general sport store, they try to supply everything their customers might need; Despite transport costs and the fact that they cannot negotiate discounts, they keep prices affordable; They know the products they use and their customers rely on them for advice — because they trust their judgement, the customers keep on coming back; They go the extra mile to provide good service. Louis’ Sports: Part of the community Louis’ Sports in Queenstown is a good example of why independent sport retailers in rural areas manage to survive and thrive despite a migration of youngsters to towns and the spread of chain stores to smaller towns Louis’ Sports is an integral part of the sport-loving Queenstown community, which includes strong sport schools like Queens High, Girls High and Hangklip Hoërskool, and a growing market amongst the previously disadvantaged schools who receive government grants to buy sports equipment. Partners David Bolze and Eric Boucher are born and bred Queenstowners. Their customers are therefore also their friends, which gives them the added incentive to make sure that their service and products are tip-top. After all, nobody wants to meet a disgruntled customer whenever you walk down the street. But then, their knowledge of the local people and their sporting needs give them an advantage over any chain store buyer sitting miles away in a head office, or an employee merely earning a salary. For example: on the morning of our visit a mother phones with an urgent request for a school track suit top for her son. After a bit of caucusing about the correct size of the boy, whom they all know, the top is collected — before the store officially opens for business. Since 1984 Louis’ Sports has been trading as Queenstown’s major supplier of sporting equipment, fishing tackle, arms and ammunition, sportswear, technical and casual footwear, and any other sporting goods needed by the community. In 1996 they amalgamated with another prominent sport store, Emmsie’s Sport. Bolze, former manager at Emmsie’s, became manager of Louis’ Sports, with Boucher, who joined Louis’ Sports in 1986, as his partner. They compliment each other well. While Bolze, who was a keen sportsman at university and coaches rugby at the local school, is more involved with the sports equipment, Boucher’s passions are fishing and hunting. They cater for the needs of the whole community — aspirational brands like Billabong, adidas and Nike for the town youngsters, soccer kits for the rural kids, a wide selection for the hunters and equipment for all the sports clubs. Even though Queenstown is not exactly a seaside town, they have to stock a wide range of fishing tackle for carp, bass, trout and even saltwater for the members of the town’s angling clubs (yes, even sea angling) and other enthusiasts. Apart from selling, they also do repairs, even of reels, which save their customers the waiting time when equipment has to be sent away for repairs. Dave Bolze and Eric Boucher is pictured here * Read our copyright notice before making use of this article Back to retailer showcase

June/July 2010

Retailer showcase:

Reasons for Louis’ Sports’ success:

Bolze and Bouwer were born in Queenstown and have lived there all their lives — everybody in town knows them and this keeps them on their toes as bad service or faulty equipment will not only cost them clients, but could also cost them friends;

As a general sport store, they try to supply everything their customers might need;

Despite transport costs and the fact that they cannot negotiate discounts, they keep prices affordable;

They know the products they use and their customers rely on them for advice — because they trust their judgement, the customers keep on coming back;

They go the extra mile to provide good service.

Louis’ Sports: Part of the community

Louis’ Sports in Queenstown is a good example of why independent sport retailers in rural areas manage to survive and thrive despite a migration of youngsters to towns and the spread of chain stores to smaller towns

Louis’ Sports is an integral part of the sport-loving Queenstown community, which includes strong sport schools like Queens High, Girls High and Hangklip Hoërskool, and a growing market amongst the previously disadvantaged schools who receive government grants to buy sports equipment.

Partners David Bolze and Eric Boucher are born and bred Queenstowners. Their customers are therefore also their friends, which gives them the added incentive to make sure that their service and products are tip-top. After all, nobody wants to meet a disgruntled customer whenever you walk down the street.

But then, their knowledge of the local people and their sporting needs give them an advantage over any chain store buyer sitting miles away in a head office, or an employee merely earning a salary.

For example: on the morning of our visit a mother phones with an urgent request for a school track suit top for her son. After a bit of caucusing about the correct size of the boy, whom they all know, the top is collected — before the store officially opens for business.

Since 1984 Louis’ Sports has been trading as Queenstown’s major supplier of sporting equipment, fishing tackle, arms and ammunition, sportswear, technical and casual footwear, and any other sporting goods needed by the community. In 1996 they amalgamated with another prominent sport store, Emmsie’s Sport. Bolze, former manager at Emmsie’s, became manager of Louis’ Sports, with Boucher, who joined Louis’ Sports in 1986, as his partner.

They compliment each other well. While Bolze, who was a keen sportsman at university and coaches rugby at the local school, is more involved with the sports equipment, Boucher’s passions are fishing and hunting.

They cater for the needs of the whole community — aspirational brands like Billabong, adidas and Nike for the town youngsters, soccer kits for the rural kids, a wide selection for the hunters and equipment for all the sports clubs. Even though Queenstown is not exactly a seaside town, they have to stock a wide range of fishing tackle for carp, bass, trout and even saltwater for the members of the town’s angling clubs (yes, even sea angling) and other enthusiasts.

Apart from selling, they also do repairs, even of reels, which save their customers the waiting time when equipment has to be sent away for repairs.

Dave Bolze and Eric Boucher is pictured here

* Read our copyright notice before making use of this article

Back to retailer showcase