Assisted by ASBTDC at Arkansas State University
Consultant Laura Miller
10 Stores and Counting for Popular Jonesboro Retailer
Gearhead Outfitters, Inc. is a successful outdoor apparel and sports gear retailer headquartered in Jonesboro.
Founder Ted Herget and his wife Amanda have grown the business to 10 locations in Arkansas and surrounding states plus an online store. After adding a Tulsa store in 2018, they continue to research growth opportunities.
Working with their hometown office at Arkansas State University, the company received market and customer data from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.
While participating with A-State students in a Real World Classroom high-impact learning experience coordinated by the center, Gearhead marketing director Whitney Eldridge learned about ASBTDC’s market research resources.
The ASBTDC provided industry and demographic insights to help Gearhead better understand its target customers and compare potential locations.
The Real World Classroom projects in which Gearhead participated in 2018 and 2019 also produced tools for the company’s growth. ASBTDC facilitated the semester-long projects with students and faculty at the A-State Neil Griffin College of Business.
In 2018, undergraduate marketing students worked with Gearhead on a promotional campaign. Most recently, a group of students from the Strategic Management MBA capstone class developed a five-year strategic plan for the business.