Bad biz: Pats weren’t the only losers; Super Bowl defeat hurts many merchants’ bottom line

Patriot Ellis Hobbs signs autographs for fans at Gillette Stadium on Monday night. (Associated Press)

By ADAM RIGLIAN
The Patriot Ledger
Had the Patriots won the Super Bowl, local stores would have been buzzing today with people buying 19-0 shirts and Super Bowl XLII championship hats.

With $15.95 and a PayPal account, you can still get one of those Patriots Super Bowl championship T-shirts on eBay, but it’s not exactly the same for fans or certainly for local businesses.

Lisa Seyffert, co-owner of Pre-Game Sports in Marshfield, estimates that her store will miss out on about $5,000 in Patriots merchandise sales because of Sunday’s Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

‘‘We were tripling our days last year (leading up to the game),’’ Seyffert said. ‘‘We made up everything we lost on ice skates and then thousands. It’s going to be a tough February if those (cranberry) bogs don’t freeze back up.’’

A smaller sporting goods store like Pre-Game puts in an ‘‘if-win’’ order for Super Bowl merchandise, which would have arrived today. But while the smaller stores do not have to pay up-front for the goods, manufacturers like Canton-based Reebok produce Patriots championship shirts and hats before the game and are left in a much different position.

Dan Sarro, a Reebok representative, said the company donates the losing team’s goods to World Vision, a charitable organization based in Washington.

Karen Kartes, a World Vision spokeswoman, said the organization used to get a couple of hundred losing-team shirts and caps that were made up in advance for distribution on the field.

‘‘In recent years, it has gotten bigger,’’ Kartes said. ‘‘The NFL has asked their retail affiliates to give to World Vision.’’
Last season, World Vision received roughly $2.5 million worth of Chicago Bears apparel following the Bears’ Super Bowl loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Those unwanted shirts and hats and jackets that the National Football League wants out of sight are distributed in poorer countries around the world.

‘‘It ends up going to people that desperately need it,’’ Kartes said. ‘‘Some of these people have never worn a new shirt, and they don’t really care what’s on it.’’

This year, Patriots goods will reach about a dozen countries, including Romania and Nicaragua. ESPN will follow the journey of the shirts to Nicaragua as part of a special report.
Sporting goods stores and manufacturers aren’t the only losers after the Patriots’ crushing defeat.

The Patriot Ledger had prepared a special 24-page section commemorating the Patriots’ perfect season. It would have been in today’s paper as the Patriots rolled through Boston in a victory parade.

Adam Riglian may be reached at ariglian@ledger.com .

Copyright 2008 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Pre-Game Sports
seeks new T-shirt logo - Marshfield, MA - Marshfield Mariner.

You may read the news article here.

Services Now Available at Pre-Game Sports

• Lay away is now available with a $5.00 non refundable fee, 10% down and 6 weeks to pay.
• Wish list registry is now available.
• Skate sharpening
• CO2 fill

SOUTH SHORE ENTREPRENEUR: FILLING EQUIPMENT VOID; Marshfield couple’s sporting goods shop has ready clientele

Mike Seyffert and his wife, Lisa, opened Pre-Game Sports in Marshfield’s Webster Square in 2004 after driving all around the South Shore to buy athletic equipment for their sons. (AMELIA KUNHARDT/The Patriot Ledger)

By A.J. BAUER
The Patriot Ledger

MARSHFIELD - After years of driving around the South Shore looking for the right sports equipment for their two sons, Mike and Lisa Seyffert figured out a solution: They opened their own sporting goods shop.

In May 2004, the Marshfield couple opened Pre-Game Sports in Marshfield’s Webster Square with the goal of filling a void they saw in the local market. The Seyfferts aimed to fill the niches that weren’t already covered by Marshfield’s sporting shops, which specialized in surf and ski equipment and skateboarding equipment. As a result, Pre-Game specializes in hockey, soccer, baseball, football and lacrosse.

Along the way, the shop also inadvertently began specializing in providing left-handed sporting goods. Although both have left-handed family members, the Seyfferts said they didn’t realize their left-handed selection was exceptional until they heard so from customers.

Lisa, whose brother is left-handed, said the usual industry ratio for purchasing right-handed versus left-handed equipment is two to one, but Pre-Game frequently stocks at a ratio of four to three.

The Seyfferts are also careful to stock left-handed versions of more than one brand.

‘‘It just seemed like the natural thing to do,’’ said Mike, 41.

Five people work at the 4,000 square-foot shop, including Mike, Lisa and their son Drew, 16. Despite their relatively low overhead, Lisa said some customers are afraid the shop’s size could lead to higher prices - a misconception she is eager to disprove.

‘‘We don’t have the overhead they have, we don’t have trucks driving across the country,’’ said Lisa, 40. ‘‘Even though we pay more for each item, we don’t have to make as much on each item to pay all the bills.’’

Last year, Pre-Game expanded its services to include screen printing and embroidery, a facet of the business Mike said he hopes to grow via team uniform sales. He said he is also hoping for an increase in licensed product sales - such as Red Sox and Patriots merchandise - although not just for the sake of his business.

‘‘Surely if the Red Sox hang on and do well this fall, that’ll help us as well,’’ Mike said. ‘‘Hopefully they will for the Red Sox’s sake, and for the sales.’’

A.J. Bauer may be reached at ajbauer@ledger.com.
Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Monday, July 30, 2007

Pre-Game Sports is excited to announce it's opening in Webster Square in Marshfield! The ribbon cutting was officiated by members of the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce including president John Valianti and Selectamn Mike Maresco.

Mike Maresco presents owners Mike and Lisa Seyffert with a proclamation from the Town of Marshfield.

Pre-Game Sports is featured in an article in the Marshfield Reporter. Here is the text of that article:

The have "what you need to play the game," as their slogan so aptly puts it.

Pre-Game Sports rests snugly next to the Star Market in Webster Square. Owners Mike and Lisa Seyffert sell playing equipment for most every sport for kids and adults, as well as licensed gear from Boston sports teams and their competitors.

Customers can also find a game called knee hockey, horseshoes and bodyboards in their store.

The Seyfferts moved to Marshfield about seven years ago because of the small-town atmosphere and its location on the ocean.

"We came down to look at the town and fell in love with it," Mike said.

When they decided to start their first business together, location was again a factor. Their Webster Square spot gives them exposure to the foot traffic into the grocery store and Blockbuster Video on the other side.

They opened May 18.

"I thought there was a need in town, and both of us have enjoyed sports, he said.

Mike coaches the Coastal Stars youth hockey team and has also coached T-ball, baseball and basketball. He works in the finance depart of Clean Harbors and will continue to work for the company as he tries something different.

Something different is what he wants of offer customers. For example, Mike and Lisa choose not to sell footwear aside from ice skates, rollerblades and flip flops because sneakers can be found so many other places.

Lisa's the one with retail experience. She was the store manager at Jordan Marsh in Nashua, N.H., right out of college and worked her way to become a buyer for Decelle. She left retail to teach math for two years.

Lisa, who also serves as treasurer of the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club, said the store has been a hit so far.

"It's been great," she said. "We've had lots of positive feedback. We have repeat customers already."

She said the best part is seeing the looks of the faces of the kids who walk through the door.

"It's like they're walking into FAO Swartz", she said.

The couple have two sons, Drew, 13, is completing the seventh-grade at Furnace Brook Middle School, and 9-year old Nick is in fourth-grade at Daniel Webster School. Drew plays ice hockey and lacrosse. Nick plays basketball.

Drew has some definite ideas about the business. One piece of advice he gave his parents was to offer paintball equipment, which they will do. Otherwise, he likes what he sees.

"I think most of the stuff is pretty good," he said.

Their son wasn't the only one to suggest they sell paintball equipment. Mike Seyffert said they try to adjust to people's requests. That's why they sell items like swimsuits and goggles.

The store hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m to 6 p.m., or when the door is open.