MINNEAPOLIS, MN — (Marketwired) — 04/03/13 — April 22, 2013, is the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day — a global event that raises awareness about the importance of conserving, respecting and protecting the Earth–s natural resources. Play It Again Sports, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is proud of its ongoing contribution to the principles of Earth Day — principles that are the driving force behind the sporting goods reseller–s business.
In 2012 alone, local Play It Again Sports stores purchased more than 1.55 million items of used sports and fitness gear, clothing and equipment — items that didn–t go into local landfills and didn–t contribute to hazardous waste problems or the continued use of valuable raw materials related to the manufacturing of new items. Included in the 1.55 million items purchased were sports gear such as baseball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse and football equipment; exercise equipment such as motorized treadmills, elliptical machines, benches, exercise bikes and free weights; and outdoor activity gear such as golf clubs and accessories, bicycles, snow sports equipment and yard games.
As a result, local Play It Again Sports stores also put more than $30 million into the pockets of families who brought in their quality used sports gear to sell. Many of these families then turned around and spent those dollars to make sports programs more affordable for their children by buying valued-priced new equipment or gently used sporting goods brought in to the store by other families — with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that everything that Play It Again Sports stores buy and sell must meet current safety regulations.
Pat Quinn, brand director of Play It Again Sports says, “This is recycling at its best. Usable items are returned to the community, rather than being discarded. Families can keep their children involved in sports without breaking the budget. And individuals who want to turn quality used sports and exercise equipment into cash can do that, too. In the end, the environment, the community and the children all benefit from what we do — and that–s a very satisfying business to be in.”
For more information about Play It Again Sports, visit .
Play It Again Sports® leads the nation in the buying and selling of quality used sports and fitness equipment. There are over 300 franchised stores in the United States and Canada. Play It Again Sports buys, sells, and trades quality used and new brand name sports & fitness equipment. Play It Again Sports is franchised by Winmark Corporation, which also franchises Once Upon A Child®, Plato–s Closet®, and Music Go Round®. For more information visit .
Winmark Corporation, based in Minneapolis, creates, supports and finances business. Specializing in leasing and developing franchises for retail stores that buy, sell, and trade new and used merchandise, it is the parent company of Play It Again Sports®, Once Upon A Child®, Plato–s Closet®, Music Go Round®, Style Encore, Wirth Business Credit®, Winmark Capital® and . Winmark has more than 965 franchise territories and is publicly traded at (NASDAQ: WINA). For more information visit .
Merry Beth Hovey
Vice President of Marketing
Winmark Corporation
Phone: (763) 520-8420
E-Mail: