SportsInc

What SportsInc does

Sports, Inc. is a member-owned sporting goods buying group founded in 1965 in Lewistown, Montana, operating as a cooperative intermediary between independent sporting goods retailers (dealers) and supplier brands. The company aggregates buying power across its nationwide dealer membership to negotiate pricing and terms with over 1,000 outdoor and athletic supplier brands, returns rebate value to members, and consolidates vendor billing and payment processing into a single guaranteed-payment workflow.

Its core product surface consists of dealer membership services and a supplier partnership program, supplemented by five annual trade shows held in major US cities (Phoenix, Charlotte, Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, Louisville) that function as the primary B2B buying mechanism. Technology assets are limited to two proprietary web portals, SportsWeb for dealers and a Vendor Portal for suppliers, supporting claims reporting, payment processing, invoice retrieval, and account management, with Google SSO for authentication. The company also offers ancillary member services including freight and credit card programs and health insurance options.

Revenue is generated through dealer membership dues, central billing and payment processing transaction fees, and supplier partnership economics. Membership is selective and by invitation only, requiring dealers to meet a minimum annual sporting goods sales threshold of $1.5 million and a three-year operating history. The organization is 100% member-owned, governed by a board elected from its membership, and is not venture-backed, PE-backed, or publicly traded. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company operates with a 51-100 employee headcount from its Lewistown headquarters.

Name

SportsInc

Legal name

Sports, Inc.

Website

https://sportsinc.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sports, Inc. is a member-owned sporting goods buying group founded in 1965 that aggregates buying power for independent US sporting goods retailers, connecting them with over 1,000 supplier brands through negotiated pricing, consolidated billing, rebate programs, and five annual trade shows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sporting Goods Buying Group Services

NAICS

Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423910)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Business Consulting & Advisory (Strategy, Valuation, Due Diligence) (MPAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Sporting goods buying group
• Retail buying cooperative
• B2B trade shows
• Central billing services
• Wholesale distribution network

Headquarters

HQ city

Lewistown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Dealer Membership Dues: Independent sporting goods retailers pay dues to become members of Sports, Inc. Members also receive stock ownership in the organization.
2. Central Billing and Payment Processing: Sports, Inc. consolidates multiple vendor payments into a single payment from dealers. The organization handles billing, payment processing, and provides guaranteed payment to suppliers.
3. Supplier Partnerships: Over 1,000 outdoor and athletic sporting goods brands partner with Sports, Inc. to sell products to the membership network. Suppliers benefit from guaranteed payment, central billing, and access to the nationwide dealer network.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sports, Inc. is a member-owned sporting goods buying group that negotiates volume pricing and terms with more than 1,000 outdoor and athletic supplier brands on behalf of its independent retailer members. It operates two proprietary portals (SportsWeb for dealers and a Vendor Portal for suppliers), consolidates vendor billing into a single payment per dealer, runs five annual B2B trade shows, and returns profits to members through rebate programs and stock ownership.

Product overview

Sports, Inc. operates as a B2B buying organization for the sporting goods industry, comprising two primary service lines: Dealer Membership and Supplier Partnership. Dealers receive access to consolidated billing, margin-enhancing buying opportunities through five annual tradeshows, rebate programs, and a members-only portal (SportsWeb) for ordering and payments. Suppliers gain access to a nationwide dealer network with guaranteed payment and central billing services. The company facilitates transactions between over 1,000 supplier brands and its member-owned network of independent retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports, Inc. Dealer Membership Invitation-only membership for independent U.S. sporting goods retailers providing collective buying power, negotiated pricing with 1,000+ supplier brands, rebate programs, consolidated billing, dedicated account representatives, and stock ownership in the member-owned organization. Members must meet thresholds such as at least $1.5 million in annual sporting goods sales and 3+ years under current ownership.
• Sports, Inc. Supplier Partnership Program Partnership program for outdoor and athletic sporting goods brands that want to sell to Sports, Inc.'s nationwide independent dealer network. Suppliers receive 100% guaranteed payment, two consolidated monthly payments instead of hundreds of individual dealer remittances, paperless electronic transaction processing, and reach into dealers across all 50 states across all sporting goods categories.
• Sports, Inc. Tradeshows Five annual B2B industry trade shows (including Outdoor Shows, Team Dealers Summer Show, Team Dealers Fall Show, and Outdoor Footwear & Apparel Show) held in major U.S. cities such as Phoenix, Charlotte, Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, and Louisville. Shows connect dealer members with supplier partners for buying opportunities and are not open to the public; exhibitors are by invitation only.
• SportsWeb Dealer Portal Members-only internal portal for dealer members offering claims reporting, a payment center, invoice retrieval, account management, and direct ordering with negotiated vendor terms. Supports both traditional username/password authentication and Google SSO.
• Sports, Inc. Vendor Portal Supplier-facing portal for vendor logins, order management, transaction processing, and communications with Sports, Inc. as part of the supplier partnership program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Unique rebate programs return millions of dollars to members each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 1,000+ Sporting Goods Brands (Supplier Partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSports, Inc. partners with over 1,000 outdoor and athletic sporting goods brands that sell their products to the dealer membership network. Supplier benefits include central billing and payment (receiving two payments monthly instead of hundreds of individual payments), 100% guaranteed payment, nationwide diverse dealer membership located in every state, coverage of all sporting goods categories, ability to bring new customers and grow existing business, and paperless/electronic transaction processing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PRO Group: Buying and merchandising group for independent consumer electronics and appliance retailers. Same fundamental business model as Sports, Inc.: aggregate independent retailer demand to negotiate supplier terms and offer programs that independents couldn't access alone.
• MEGA Group USA: Member-owned buying group serving independent furniture, bedding, and electronics retailers with negotiated vendor programs, marketing services, and centralized operations. Directly mirrors Sports, Inc.'s cooperative buying-group model applied to another independent retail vertical.
• Nationwide Marketing Group: The largest U.S. buying group for independent specialty retailers across electronics, appliances, and furniture. Highly comparable operating model to Sports, Inc.: selective membership, supplier negotiation, centralized billing, and rebate/margin programs for independent retailer members.
• BrandSource: Member-driven buying group for independent furniture, appliance, and electronics dealers, providing negotiated supplier pricing, financing, and dealer support services. Operates the same 'collective buying power for independents' model that defines Sports, Inc.
• HTSA (Home Theater Specialists of America): Selective, member-owned buying group serving independent home theater and custom integration retailers, offering vendor programs, buying events, and operational support. Closely analogous to Sports, Inc. in selective membership and trade-event-driven engagement.

Emerging players

• Faire: Digital B2B wholesale marketplace enabling independent retailers to discover and source brands online. Functions as an alternative purchasing channel that competes for the same 'supplier-independent retailer' connection that Sports, Inc. curates through its 1,000-brand network.

Broad incumbents

• Academy Sports + Outdoors: Large U.S. sporting goods and outdoor retailer competing head-to-head with independent dealers. Relevant peer because supplier brands use Academy as a benchmark when sizing the independent channel that Sports, Inc. aggregates.
• Big 5 Sporting Goods: Multi-state sporting goods retail chain. Comparable because it competes for the same end consumer dollars and brand shelf presence, putting pressure on the independent dealers that Sports, Inc. exists to support.
• Hibbett Sports: Mid-market sporting goods retailer now part of JD Sports. Competes for the same customers as Sports, Inc.'s independent dealers and is often cited in industry context alongside the network Sports, Inc. supports.
• Dick's Sporting Goods: Largest U.S. sporting goods specialty retailer. Not a buying group, but its scale and omnichannel investments are the primary competitive threat facing Sports, Inc.'s independent dealer base and a key driver of why dealers need Sports, Inc.'s collective buying power.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SportsInc