Running Lab
Running Lab is a privately held Brighton, Michigan specialty retailer selling running and walking footwear, apparel, and gear across 13+ brands via one physical store and a Shopify e-commerce site, serving individual runners, walkers, and local race participants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersBrighton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Running Lab does
Running Lab is a privately held, single-location specialty running and walking retailer founded in 2011 and headquartered at 409 W. Main St in Brighton, Michigan. The company sells running and walking footwear, apparel, and gear — including 3,633 SKUs across 13+ brands such as Brooks, Hoka, Saucony, New Balance, Nike, Asics, Diadora, Puma, Altra, Topo, OOFOS, Mizuno, and Hylo Athletics — directly to individual consumers through a brick-and-mortar storefront and a Shopify-powered e-commerce site. Footwear pricing spans roughly $99.99 to $300 and apparel ranges from $30 to $110.
The business model is direct-to-consumer retail across two channels: an in-person store offering the proprietary 5 Star Fitting Process (a gait-analysis and shoe-fitting service), and an online storefront shipping nationwide. Ancillary revenue is generated through official merchandise partnerships for the Detroit Marathon and Corktown Race, a gift card program, and a Running Lab Rewards App loyalty layer. Community engagement programs (Kids Run Club, Good Form Running) and sustainability partnerships with Low Impact Alliance, Sneaker Impact, and Soles4Souls support customer acquisition and retention.
Underlying technology is minimal and commoditized: a Shopify e-commerce platform with no disclosed proprietary AI, data, or integration layer. The company has 1-10 employees, no institutional investors, no disclosed funding, and no subsidiaries. It is a lifestyle specialty retailer whose competitive position is anchored in service quality, curated brand breadth, and local community presence rather than technology, scale, or capital intensity.
Running Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Running Lab
- Legal name
- Running Lab
- Website
- https://runninglabstore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Running Lab is a privately held Brighton, Michigan specialty retailer selling running and walking footwear, apparel, and gear across 13+ brands via one physical store and a Shopify e-commerce site, serving individual runners, walkers, and local race participants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Running Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Running and Walking Specialty Retail
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performance Running Specialty Retail (CRAMACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Running & Endurance Wear (CRAAAEAD), Trail Running & Outdoor Performance Accessories Retail (CRAMAAAH)
Keywords
Where Running Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brighton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Running Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Sales - Footwear: Direct retail sales of running and walking shoes across multiple brands including Brooks, Hoka, Saucony, New Balance, Nike, Asics, and others. Products range from entry-level trainers to premium performance shoes priced from approximately $99.99 to $300.
- Retail Sales - Apparel: Sales of running apparel including tops, jackets, pants, shorts, tights, bras, and accessories from brands such as Brooks, Nike, Tracksmith, and Chicknlegs.
- Retail Sales - Gear and Accessories: Sales of running gear including socks, nutrition, insoles, bags, medical supplies, compression sleeves, GPS watches, hats, hydration products, and sunglasses.
- Event Merchandise: Sales of Detroit Marathon official merchandise and Corktown Race merchandise including apparel, hats, headbands, socks, glassware, and bags.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Footwear - Entry Level |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Footwear - Mid Range |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Footwear - Premium |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - Basic |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel - Premium |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Running Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Running Lab is a Brighton, Michigan-based running and walking specialty retailer that sells multi-brand running and walking footwear, apparel, and gear both through a physical retail store and an e-commerce storefront. The company complements its product sales with expert in-person fitting services (the 5 Star Fitting Process), community running programs (Kids Run Club, Good Form Running), and a customer loyalty rewards app, while also serving as the official merchandise retailer for the Detroit Marathon and Corktown Race.
Product overview
Running Lab is a walking and running shoe store located in Brighton, MI that operates both a physical retail location and an e-commerce store powered by Shopify. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of footwear, apparel, and gear products organized across multiple product lines. The core footwear offering spans categories including Lightweight/Racing, Neutral, Neutral Plus, Stability, Trail, Track & Field, Cross Country, Casual, Motion Control, Walking, Sandals, and Outdoor Hike for men and women. The apparel line includes tops, jackets, pants, shorts, tights, bras, skirts, tanks, and capris. The gear category encompasses socks, nutrition, insoles, bags, medical supplies, compression wear, electronics, GPS watches, hats, headbands, hydration gear, sunglasses, and winter accessories. Running Lab also sells official merchandise for the Detroit Marathon and Corktown Race events, plus gift cards. The company carries multiple footwear brands including Brooks, Hoka, Saucony, New Balance, Nike, Asics, Diadora, Puma, Altra, Topo, OOFOS, Mizuno, and Hylo Athletics. Beyond retail, Running Lab offers services including a 5 Star Fitting Process, Good Form Running education, Kids Run Club youth program, and a Running Lab Rewards App loyalty program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Running Lab
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Running Lab technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Running Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Low Impact AllianceminorRunning Lab partners with Low Impact Alliance as part of their sustainability initiatives to collect and properly dispose of gently used running footwear, helping reduce environmental waste from discarded shoes.
- Sneaker ImpactminorSneaker Impact partnership enables Running Lab to accept gently used footwear donations for redistribution, keeping shoes out of landfills and providing access to footwear for those in need.
- Soles4SoulsminorRunning Lab partners with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that distributes donated shoes globally, as part of their shoe recycling and sustainability program.
- Detroit MarathoncoreRunning Lab is an official merchandise retailer for the Detroit Marathon, selling official event apparel, gear, and merchandise both online and in-store.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Running Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fleet Feet: Fleet Feet is the largest U.S. running specialty retail franchise with 200+ stores. It offers the same multi-brand assortment (Brooks, Hoka, Saucony, etc.), in-store fitting services, and community run programs that Running Lab provides. It is the most directly comparable specialty competitor, though at much greater scale.
- Road Runner Sports: Road Runner Sports is a long-standing running specialty retailer combining physical stores with a strong e-commerce presence, carrying the same premium running brands. Its focus on running-only assortment and gait-analysis services makes it a directly comparable peer to Running Lab.
- JackRabbit: JackRabbit is a multi-store running specialty retailer offering footwear, apparel, and gear from Brooks, Hoka, Saucony, and New Balance with in-store fitting expertise. Its omnichannel model (physical stores + e-commerce) and customer experience focus directly mirror Running Lab's positioning.
Peers
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Running Lab social profiles
Digital presenceRunning Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Running Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Running Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Running Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Running Lab
What does Running Lab do?
Running Lab is a Brighton, Michigan-based running and walking specialty retailer that sells multi-brand running and walking footwear, apparel, and gear both through a physical retail store and an e-commerce storefront. The company complements its product sales with expert in-person fitting services (the 5 Star Fitting Process), community running programs (Kids Run Club, Good Form Running), and a customer loyalty rewards app, while also serving as the official merchandise retailer for the Detroit Marathon and Corktown Race.
Is Running Lab a public or private company?
Running Lab is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Running Lab founded?
Running Lab was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Running Lab based?
Running Lab is headquartered in Brighton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Running Lab make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Sales - Footwear is the primary driver. The others are retail Sales - Apparel, retail Sales - Gear and Accessories and event Merchandise.
Who are Running Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fleet Feet, Road Runner Sports and JackRabbit. Running Warehouse is listed as a peer.
Does Running Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Running Lab.
What industry is Running Lab in?
Running Lab's product category is Running and Walking Specialty Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMACAA, Performance Running Specialty Retail, with a secondary code of CRAAAEAD, Running & Endurance Wear.