A new specialty run retailer has been crowned Store of the Year at The Running Event (TRE).
Of the 50 retailers recognized as the best running stores in the U.S., South Carolina-based Palmetto Running Company was named the 2023 Store of the Year. The store, with locations in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, earned the honor during the 2023 Industry Awards Dinner at TRE, the annual running industry-focused trade show held in Austin, Texas.
Palmetto Running Company co-owners Christian Fyfe and Keri Straughn accepted the award. Fyfe and Straughn are also co-founders of the Low Impact Alliance, a nonprofit organization described as “a collective of retailers, athletes and brands advocating for a more sustainable running industry.”
“At Palmetto Running Company, we truly believe that the running sport can be a vehicle for change. We encourage each and every one of you to speak to your values and always do so with passion and authenticity,” said Fyfe. “We have never been comfortable with the status quo. We expect more from this industry and we continue to push it forward through our core values and our eco initiatives. Our efforts to help everyone realize the important role they play in their community and local environments has been recognized, and we empower you all to join us in that mission.”
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The 50 stores were announced by region, and one finalist per region was selected. Aside from Palmetto Running Company, which represented the South Region, the three remaining finalists included Mill City Running (Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region), Fleet Feet Louisville (West Region) and Running Lab (Midwest Region).
Past winners of the Store of the Year at TRE include Ridgefield Running Company (2022), Charlotte Running Company (2021) and 1st Place Sports (2020).
