Dick’s may have had a good quarter, but their hunting sales are way down.
(Photo: Mike Mozart/YouTube)
“Dick’s Soaring Sales Prove It Can Succeed Without Assault Rifles,” CNN Business crowed earlier this week. But while it’s true that Dick’s saw an uptick in overall sales, CNN’s headline only tells part of the story.
“These areas of strength, however, were offset by declines in our hunt and electronic businesses,” said Dick’s Chief Financial Officer Lee J. Belitsky on a call with investors. “As expected, our firearms policy changes impacted our hunt business which saw an accelerated decline in an already challenged category.”
Edward Stack, Dick’s CEO and Virtue Signaler in Chief (VSC), echoed Belitsky’s analysis.
“And the hunt business we expect, based on our firearm policy, it’s going to continue to be challenged through the balance of the year,” he said.
Belitsky’s characterization of hunting and firearms as an “already challenged category” alludes to the recent decline in firearm sales post-Obama. That would be a convenient excuse, except that gun-related background checks set records in both March and April. Sportsman’s Warehouse also reported a 14.9% increase in same-store firearm unit sales as well as a 17.5% increase in a same-store sales basis for the first quarter of 2018.
The improvements, they say, are “largely driven by an increase in traffic as a result of recent policy changes by our competitors.”
“We have a diverse mix of product and the recent changes in the competitive landscape are driving more customers into Sportsman’s Warehouse,” Jon Barker, the company’s CEO, added last week during an earnings call. “This is creating market share opportunities by allowing us to engage with a broad range of customers from first-time users to seasoned hunters and shooters.”
SEE ALSO: Springfield Armory Goes Dickless… (Cuts Ties w/ Sporting Goods Retailer)
Moving forward, Stack was anything but confident in Dick’s ability to remain in the firearms and hunting market.
“Well, the hunt business is going to continue it’s been a challenging business for the last several years,” Stack said when asked what kind of change the company expected in those categories through the end of the year.
“Our hunt business is going to continue to be challenged because that same consumer who is buying firearms is buying hunting boots and hunting apparel. All of that is baked into our guidance and we think that the whole category is going to continue to be challenged through the balance of the year.”
He was even less definitive about his long-term projections.
“That depends on a lot of things that have to be determined yet and that is how the business plays out, how the manufacturers decide that they want to do business together,” he said. “The one thing that we do know is that it’s going to continue to be challenged, but as we reallocate some marketing dollars, as we reallocate expenses to some other categories, we think it will continue to be margin accretive to us.”
SEE ALSO: Dick’s Sporting Goods to Destroy AR-15s Pulled from Shelves
Stack was also asked about the recent decisions by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Mossberg to cut ties with Dick’s over their stance on firearms.
“Well, we don’t have the best relationship with the firearms manufacturers right now,” he said.
“Mossberg did indicate that they weren’t going to sell us on a direct basis. If we want, we can still buy that product from a distributor to have that in the assortment, if products that they sell fit into our assortment. We’re not sure we’re going to do that, but we have the ability to do that.”
“As far as the National Shooting Sports Federation expelling us, we didn’t have a whole lot to do with them,” he continued. “They primarily run the SHOT Show. We would go to the SHOT Show, so we don’t go to the SHOT Show now. It’s really not that big of a deal.”
The company still plans to open 19 new stores this year, but some markets may be more receptive than others. Check out the comments under a recent Facebook ad announcing a new Dick’s in Waco, Texas:
I’ve read the woman CEO had a lot to do with the firearms decision. I guess she really gave the stockholders the ….Dick
I could never see Dicks as a source of anything except tennis and games that deal with balls. People who play tennis generally are venting their anger and frustration against their fellowmen in the game of killing their human opponents. They do not generally mix well with people who shoot and , or hunt. These folks are the proponents and supporters of Dicks, let’s keep Dicks open for them. well you know what I am talking about. To get shot by accident, loan a Dicks friend a gun and take him hunting. Better wear your body armour and have your affairs in order.
The Waco Academy Outdoors has had an increase in gun sales since D-words opened in waco (right after the anti-2A decision.) In addition Academy has the Little League Base Ball business sewn up as they have a very attractive program for replacing bats that became obsoleted due to a rule change. Cabelas is another full-range outdoor /hunting/shooting store in the area that exceeds D-words in local appeal and variety of merchandise.
Waco is unlikely make Dick’s viable in ref: Golf- most of the country club set own their own hunting ranches and all of them carry handguns. LIkewise, Forget Soccer. The local LGBTQ community is otherwise occupied and/or not numerous enough to form leagues.
Dick’s in Waco, will have to try to survive on ultra-lite walking loafers for democrat bird watchers.
Unlike obozo I’m done with DICKS
Gave the wife $100 to buy her running shoes as long as she doesn’t shop at obozo’s favorite flavor
Does anyone know if Dick’s sells ‘strap-ons’?
Lets clarify things even further!
Dicks NEVER sold ASSAULT WEAPONS…Period.
Dicks NEVER sold Semi-Auto wrapons (I believe the spelling is Weapons?).
They sold Semi-Auto modern sporting rifles.
There is a difference! Assault weapons are highly regulated and CANNOT be sold to the public WITHOUT State Police/FBI vetting, (2) finger print cards, local LEO signed approval, 12 month wait(for approval) and lest we forget the $200.00 tax.
And that is assuming the state you live in EVEN ALLOWS THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Lets clarify something, Dicks NEVER sold ASSAULT WEAPONS…Period.
They sold Semi-Auto wrapons.
There is a difference! Assault weapons are highly regulated and CANNOT be sold to the public WITHOUT State Police/FBI vetting, (2) finger print cards, local LEO signed approval, 12 month wait(for approval) and lest we forget the $200.00 tax.
Anyone surprised that Dick’s is being treated like the Dick’s that they are ?
Dicks – I never found what I wanted or the price was exorbitant. So I avoid Dick’s anyway this just gives me another reason. The only problem I now have is it is a +2hr drive to get to Cebelas or Bass Pro for me, as the nearby Gander just closed.
BUT all you’ll profess a Dick’s boycott are you being hypocrites or just disingenuous as Walmart has nearly gone the same route [no handguns/assault rifles must be 21] – being a Nam vet I have a real problem with 21 crap. IF they added an exception of military I would not bark as loud – but still do not like it. I have the same beeeoch with MADD mothers pushing the drinking age to 21 and no exception for Military (who live under two sets of laws UCMJ and State/Local). Old enough to die for your country but not to drink a beer. Then lets follow the logic of 21 as they are too immature to buy pistols or drink then under 21 should also not be able to enter into a legal contract aka get a marriage license, apartment lease, loans, etc. Or is this a special interest having their cake and eating it too? Hypocrisy….
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Walmart Execs have ignorantly accepted the erroneous definition of ‘assault’ rifle that the media/Libturds had created – AR15/AK sold to the public are ‘semi-automatic’ (one round per trigger pull) NOT full-automatic the alphabets/military have and that is the real definition of ‘Assault’. Now who will boycott Walmart?
I’m almost glad I’m near my expiration date as the USA I fought for and loved is almost dead due to social special interest groups/Libturds forcing socialistic laws down our throats and we are to smile too – BOHICA. The downfall of the Roman Empire sent Rome ablaze I see that blaze coming to WDC/Chicago/NYC/LA/SF/Atlanta soon. I’m just sorry I brought kids into this world that my generation F-up as I’m sure leaving them a mess.
I’M AWARE AND I DON’T SHOP AT WALMART EITHER! I DO GO THERE TO WALK IN THE AC AND OUT OF THE BUFFALO GNATS!
It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’ll ever step foot in Dick’s again. Their store name fits them well.
…..Good!!,….can’t wait for the SOBs to UNDER!!,…..I will NEVER buy Nothing from them!!,….
Dick’s is dead to me. I wouldn’t buy a stick of gun from those traitors. I will celebrate their going out-of-business day.
We should all call dicks and ask them when their going out of business sale starts.
Money talks. Don’t like to shop with dicks? Don’t. Simple. They’ll go away and no-one will care.
I put my money where my mouth is… Being that my entire family is comprised of active athletes (High School 3-sport athlete, College Athlete, and both parents active in Triathlon), we stopped shopping at Dicks the minute they made their stupid decision. If a company doesn’t support our Constitutional rights, then for all I care they can leave the country. I hope they fail – there are so many other options for athletes of all sports to shop elsewhere. I’m still on their mailing list, and it pleases me to throw their discount coupons in the garbage. Good riddance Commie Dick’s.
How stupid was that decision but Dickless? Just like sports authority they announced they were going to hire 1000 new employees,then announced they were broke. Can you imagine the name on the Bronco Stadium?
They are full shit. I use to buy sporting apparel from Dick’s for my kids. I won’t ever buy anything ever again from Dick’s. Same with Yeti. I was in one of my local guns stores and they had Yeti coolers. I told them to get rid of them.
At one time, Kmart had a superb sports section that sold sports equipment, hunting supplies, fishing stuff–and guns. In the 1980’s they began trying to tweak their public image by getting political. They stopped selling guns. They fired Fuzzy Zeller because of a joke directed at Tiger Woods and hired Rosie O’Donnell to put a new face on things. Every effort to change their public image alienated their customer base. Now, after closing some 1200 stores, they are facing Chapter 11 for the third time. Unlike Dick’s, Kmart did not build its reputation as a sporting goods store and being a variety store didn’t help it in the end. I foresee Dick’s going the way of Kmart–only quicker.
No doubt K-Mart use to be a much better store … but I think their down fall really started when they were bought out by Sear’s …it was down hill from there.
We have a Dunhams right down the street from our Dickless store. Dunhams will gladly take my money and I will gladly shop there. Hopefully, there going to be having a going out of business sale soon. Wouldn’t be going to that either.
The sooner they’re gone the better! Good riddance anti freedom traitors!
Run them out of business.
They will do that to themselves just like Sports Authority did. Traffic is what counts in retail. I had a Sports Authority store within walking distance of my house. I’d pop in to buy a license and maybe a few fishing lures. While there I would browse biking jerseys, maybe buy some camp fuel or a few camping supplies. One day I walked in and all the fishing gear was gone, along with most of the camping equipment. Also they no longer sold fishing/hunting licenses. No reason for me to be there. Store closed within a year.
Of course they put a positive spin on the latest report, what they left out was it’s a minor comeback after the initial drop in earnings so they are pretty much net zero. Their stock took a 5% hit in the fourth quarter so the effect of the trashing of inventory cost them. Keep up the pressure and they will eventually close.
You can hear a pin drop in the medford Oregon store. I don’t know anyone that shops there any more. And this is a store that broke records when they first opened. Now they are breaking records for being the least likely outdoor store to go to!
Dick’s, exactly what the name implies.
They reported good earnings and their stock price jumped. They probably picked up lots of liberal customers with their anti-2A stance. Time will tell if it is a long term effect or a flash in the pan. But they still have an appropriate name.
Good for Dicks, Now they need less employees,
I just drive past Dicks now and go to Bass Pro if I need anything.
Dicks in Prescott Valley, AZ is always empty whenever I drive by. On my way to Sportsmans Warehouse.
It’s because they are selling them next door at their Field and Stream stores! Don’t buy from there either!
UMM? WHAT DID DICKS SPORTING GOODS THINK WOULD HAPPEN. I KNOW I WONT SHOP THERE FOR ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE.
Good Thing you used all capital letters……I might have missed this deeply profound, heavily contemplated comment…and, how could I possibly make it thru the day having not read such “wisdom”?
Thanks Jerry Jones. Me too. I really support Mark and his commitment to boycotting Dicks.
Also, please send a cash donation to The Sarcastic Blindness Fund. You never know when it will hit someone close to you.
No kidding. I agree. The punctuation and spelling police are a vicious lot.
I didnt catch when they were supposed to have all the “assault weapons” destroyed but in las cruses nm they still have a handful of ars and a couple .22 ars as well.
For all I care, Dick’s (appropriately named) can get by on sales of spandex bicycle shorts,golf towels, and plaid flannel shirts for the metrosexuals whose outdoor experience consists of their journey from Starbucks front door to their BMW’s.
Btw, you know how they “destroyed” those AR15’s they had in stock? By unpinning the uppers from the lowers, carefully wrapping them, and placing them back in the original cartons for shipment to the so-called “salvage” companies who will reassemble the uppers to the lowers and sell complete AR-15’s. Reportedly Dicks actually got almost what they had in them.
Big noble virtuous sacrifice, huh, Dicks?
Please provide a source for this. I would love to plaster that info in the liberal’s faces to piss them off. Then everyone would be boycotting these dicks.
I will never shop at Dick’s as long as I live. Hopefully they go out of Business soon .
They live up to their name. Bet they bank with Citi Bank.
In a year or so they’ll get out of the firearm retailing and just sell all the name brand outer wear and Yeti coolers to poseurs and fashionistas.
I saw a news report on Dicks quarterly earnings. The commentator was giddy with delight while gloating over how earnings weren’t impacted by Dick’s decision to stop selling assault-style rifles.
Once again we agree, Sepp W. I expect Dick’s to stop selling firearms altogether based on this. An old friend of mine worked at Dick’s corporate office when last I heard – I should look him up and see what he thinks. I wonder if that was the plan all along – stop selling assault weapons and then when gun sales drop as a category, just stop selling them too. It wouldn’t be the first time – when was the last time JC Penny’s came to mind as a seller of firearms? Or Target? Or Abercrombie and Fitch came to mind for fancy hunting duds?
It doesn’t really affect me – that Dick’s in Waco might be the closest one to where I live. Unless there is one in Denver? I wouldn’t care to buy any of the firearms that they stopped selling anyways.