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DICK’S Considers Ending Gun Sales Chainwide

DICK’S Sporting Goods is reviewing whether it will continue to carry guns as it examines the results from 135 stores that no longer sell firearms, according to CNN. The retailer pulled hunting products out of 10 stores last fall as a test, and expanded the experiment to another 125 locations this year.

In Q2, DICK’S reported strong growth in its athletics, clothing and footwear businesses, and did not see a significant sales hit at stores where “hunt” items were removed. Total sales grew 3.8% to approximately $2.26 billion during the quarter, while same-store sales increased 3.2%.

Gun sales have declined over the past two years, and firearms have lower margins than other items, according to CEO Ed Stack. However, DICK’S isn’t ready to decide whether to drop the hunting business altogether, as Q2 takes place outside the main hunting season.

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“Like the initial stores, we replaced [hunt] with categories and products that can drive growth,” said Stack during an earnings call. “Though it’s too early to discuss performance, we’re optimistic these changes will better serve our athletes in these communities and generate positive results.”

DICK’S started limiting sales of firearms by ending assault-style rifle sales following the Parkland, Fla. mass shooting in 2018. Other changes made in the wake of the event included:

  • No longer selling firearms to anyone under 21 years of age, regardless of local age limit laws;
  • No longer selling high-capacity magazines; and
  • Not selling bump stocks that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly (which it did not carry at the time).

The retailer saw a deeper-than-expected sales decline during that quarter, which ended two weeks after the announcement, but a 3.7% increase in foot traffic the weekend after the announcement, according to Reveal Mobile. The retailer later saw increased traffic at the first 10 stores to end firearm sales, which prompted the removal of guns from additional stores.

DICK’s still sells guns and other hunting products in approximately 600 stores.

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