Runnings Expands To Serve New Communities, Supported By Horizon
THE CUSTOMER
Runnings is a growing home, farm, and outdoor store with an extensive selection of pet supplies, outdoor sporting goods, apparel, lawn & garden, and farm items. For over 70 years, the Runnings team has served customers with a wide selection of trusted brands, quality merchandise and hometown-friendly customer service. At present, the company operates 80 stores, and will grow to 90 storefronts by the end of 2024.
PLANNING FOR GROWTH
“In 2023, Runnings reached an agreement to purchase R.P. Home & Harvest, a family-owned company with 22 locations and one distribution facility across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin,” explains Runnings President Brian Odegaard. “R.P. Home & Harvest was a great company, serving customers and communities similar to our existing market, with similar values and culture to Runnings, so we knew the acquisition made perfect sense from a business perspective.
But we had an operational challenge ahead of us because we had to transition those stores over to the Runnings brand while minimizing disruption to our valued customers. That’s where Horizon, our retail management software provider, really stepped in and helped out.”
A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP
Horizon has been a software partner for Runnings since 1992, when Runnings had 7 stores, so collaboration between the two teams was built on a foundation of trust and experience.
In recent years, Horizon has provided an assortment of value-added features to Runnings as the business grows and changes. Notable successes include a co-branded card integration, so customers can apply and be approved for a Runnings credit card right in the cashier lane.
Horizon has also supported Runnings’ movement towards omnichannel retail with e-commerce and warehouse integrations that provide customer convenient solutions, like shipping products directly to the store for customer pick-ups. Horizon also empowers Runnings’s growth with store promotion features to get customers into stores and encourage them to return.
With the acquisition of R.P. Home & Harvest, the Horizon team were called upon to support Runnings as they migrated customer data to Horizon ERP and transitioned 22 stores over to the Runnings brand, while minimizing disruption to employees and customers alike.
A SEAMLESS TRANSITION
“A data migration and store cutover of the scope we completed with Horizon is a complex task,” explains Odegaard, “And we really wanted it done quickly and accurately, so we could get our storefronts reopened and welcome customers back as quickly as possible.”
To assist with this goal, Horizon scaled the ERP software platform to support an increased number of store locations and multiple distribution centers and ensure everything ran quickly and reliably. The Horizon team also ensured the import of all relevant data from R.P. Home & Harvest was completed accurately.
“We’re always happy with the support Horizon offers, whether it’s during a big project or just during normal operations,” indicates Terry Kriz, Runnings Director of Information Services.
“Horizon customer support takes a personal approach and is responsive to operational issues as they arise. There is no concern about support tickets being lost in the void or of being ‘just a number,’ as a customer since Horizon will follow up and stay engaged to work through issues. That level of support really matters when you are talking about essential retail management software that keeps a network of shops and warehouses across many states all working together.”
OUTSTANDING RESULTS, AND A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
“We were really proud of the outcome of our migration,” says Odegaard. “The cutover was seamless, and only required that stores be closed for one day before reopening under the Runnings banner. That was the optimal outcome for all our planning, and it really let us put the right foot forward with our new customers.”
What’s next for the Runnings and Horizon partnership? There are a few things on Odegaard’s radar. First, he says, the Runnings team is working hard to integrate their new colleagues into the organization and help them use technologies like Horizon’s new web-based ERP user interface.
Then, there’s the issue of modernizing in-store technology to keep pace with an evolving industry. This project has recently included the introduction of modern wireless handheld scanners in stores and distribution centers, which integrate with Horizon technology for warehouse and inventory management.
Finally, Runnings is still on a trajectory of growth. With the upcoming acquisition of Home of Economy, and the announcement of two new stores opening, the company will end 2024 with 90 stores in twelve states.
“There are a number of exciting opportunities out there currently for us to bring the Runnings brand to new communities,” says Odegaard. “As we grow, we always focus on making a positive impact on the communities we serve and providing a great customer experience. Horizon’s technology and expert support plays an important role in fulfilling that ambition.”