Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Pigg.
Hi Tracy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband, Nick, and I became entrepreneurs in 2010 when we opened our first running store. Go Outside and Play. We moved to Galesburg, IL in 2008. Nick has been a lifelong runner, and we quickly realized there was not a local running shop serving the area. We didn’t know anything about starting a business, but we knew we wanted to be a store with excellent customer service, a great product, and fill a need in our community. We did a lot of research, a lot of planning, and a lot of hard work to get the doors open. We started group runs, co-founded a half marathon, and sold a lot of shoes, with customer service remaining our top priority. Eventually, we decided it was time to move back to our hometown, Kansas City, MO, so we sold Go Outside and Play and hit the road in 2014. We quickly got to work on our next running store, Run 816, which was located in Westport. We had the same philosophy that customer service had to be front and center in what we did. But, we wanted to do more this time around- we wanted to not only provide an unforgettable experience when you were shopping for shoes, we wanted to create an all inclusive space that welcomed everyone in. A place to run, a place to hang out with other runners, a real community. Nick and I worked really hard, and we hired amazing people to help us out in the store, and we did just that! We hosted weekly group runs that brought in 100+ runners to Westport each Sunday. We started a race team unlike any other (the only requirement was that you were a nice person). We treated each person that came in the door with kindness and respect. We are so proud of what we started with that little running shop!
We took time to re-evaluate our goals when our lease was about to end in February 2020. We ultimately decided that while we loved Run 816 and all the amazing friends we made from it, we were TIRED and both feeling a little burnt out. We decided then to close Run 816, rather than renewing our lease. (We are so thankful that circumstance aligned and we chose to close just before we went into a global pandemic! Running a retail business is hard on a good day, let alone in the middle of something like that.). Wanting to stay a part of the running community that we know and love, we decided to open a run coaching business, PR Project. Nick is a Certified Running Coach and works with athletes at all levels of running. I handle the administrative tasks and manage the social media accounts.
Last Winter, Nick had a crazy idea to start a premium firewood delivery service. As the entrepreneurs we are, we quickly got to work researching and planning. Again, it was something new to us, but the philosophy remained the same- customer service first, a quality product, and fill a need in the community. This summer, we launched The Campfire Company. We serve the Kansas City area, and offer free delivery on premium kiln dried firewood.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been struggles along the way! With our first store, we knew NOTHING about starting a business. We had a lot to learn! We were in smaller town, without any close competition, which was good. But we also had to educate a lot of people on what a running store even was! With our second store, we were in a bigger city, with a huge running community (which was great), but there were many other stores where someone could buy running shoes. We worked really hard to set ourselves apart by providing the best customer experience anywhere around.
We started PR Project at the beginning of the pandemic. We were coaching runners for races that were being cancelled! Running is such a stress reliever for so many people and provides consistency in uncertain times. We’re thankful we have so many people that value their health and wellness and want to train with us.
Starting The Campfire Company has been a pretty smooth road so far. We were able to take our time and really do our research, so we had a solid plan when we opened.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
PR Project: We provide personalized training plans and run coaching services to take your running to the next level. Nick’s philosophy is to meet you where you’re at and train smartly and safely to get you where you want to be. We work with runners of all levels- beginners to seasoned runners, 5K to ultramarathon, and all paces. www.prprojectkc.com
The Campfire Company: The Campfire Company provides premium kiln-dried firewood for your fireplaces or firepits. We will deliver a neatly stacked rack of wood, or box, and set it up wherever you’d like. All you have to do is grab the s’mores and enjoy! Once your rack is empty, we’ll come swap it out for a full one, or pick up your empty rack and cover (at no charge).
www.thecampfirecompanykc.com
The thing that sets us apart from others is that we always make customer service our priority. Whether it’s working with an athlete or delivering a rack of wood, we always focus on the little details that will make the experience a great one. It’s really simple, we just treat our customers like we would want to be treated.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Being flexible is key! Once races starting getting cancelled and group gatherings were not allowed, we had to get creative in ways to connect with our customers. We couldn’t hold in person group runs for a while, so we created weekly running routes and shared with our athletes so they could run on their own. When a marathon was cancelled right before race day for one of our athletes, we hosted a virtual marathon for him. You have to be willing to think outside the box.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thecampfirecompanykc.com
- Instagram: @thecampfirecompanykc
- Facebook: @thecampfirecompanykc
