Dick's

Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest sporting goods retailer in the United States by revenue, operating over 700 stores under the Dick's Sporting Goods banner alongside specialty format stores including Golf Galaxy, Public Lands, and Going Going Gone outlet stores. Founded in 1948 by Richard Dick Stack as a small fishing tackle store in Binghamton, New York, the company has grown into a publicly traded retail giant with annual revenues exceeding $12 billion.

Dick's has survived and thrived where others struggled by investing consistently in store experience, exclusive brand partnerships, and a strong private label portfolio. The company's in-store presentation — featuring dedicated shop-in-shop experiences for Nike, adidas, and Under Armour — creates a retail environment that feels engaging rather than transactional, driving basket sizes and repeat visits.

Private labels and brand strategy

Dick's has invested significantly in its own private label brands, including CALIA (women's activewear, co-designed with Carrie Underwood), Alpine Design (outdoor and camping), and Walter Hagen (golf). The company also made the controversial decision to stop selling assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines following the 2018 Parkland school shooting — a move that ultimately reinforced Dick's identity with its target customer and positioned the brand as one with genuine values.

E-commerce and omnichannel

Dick's e-commerce business has grown substantially, with online now representing a meaningful share of total revenues. Same-day delivery, ship-from-store, and BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store) are all well-established, and the company's stores function as local fulfilment hubs for digital orders. The Dick's app integrates well with the ScoreCard Rewards loyalty programme, driving repeat purchasing among the company's most valuable customers.