The PLAYTRI Opportunity

Hello Triathletes,

I want to share my triathlon and Playtri Triathlon Store ownership journey with you. In 1986, I did my first triathlon. It was early in the history of the sport, only 8 years since the first IRONMAN, but from that day on I was hooked. Now 31 years later, in 2017, I was finishing my last Corporate job and trying to decide what I wanted to do for the last phase of my working life. I was tired of working for someone else – even as a Corporate CEO, I had to report to a Board. I was ready to work for myself in a field that was close to my heart. So, when registering for a PLAYTRI Triathlon, I was surprised to see a tab on the website titled “Franchises Available”.

Long story short – after meeting with Founders, Ahmed Zaher and Staci Brode, I was sold and wanted in! With my previous 30 years of corporate experience, I was asked to join Playtri as CEO and help grow into a national brand, with stores in all 50 states. But first I needed to understand what I was selling. So, I became a Franchisee and Owner of Playtri Colleyville, the smallest existing company-owned store. I trained under Ahmed and Staci, studied the Training Manual and started operating. Since I didn’t know anything about the biking / fitness market, I did the smart thing – I followed the Playtri Program!

Four years later Playtri Colleyville was the #1 Franchisee Owned store with a 450% increase in sales. But more importantly, I had built a business that I believed in within the sport I love. My Playtri store felt like MY store, because it reflected my personality within Playtri’s framework. I also found that I enjoyed passing on my racing experience to new triathletes as well as folks who just wanted to get their first bike: Tri, Road, Mountain or recreational Hybrid. We became “your friendly neighborhood bike store” something I discovered was lacking in this industry.

Playtri taught me to be a coach, a mentor, trainer and resource to people looking to improve their fitness. And I haven’t found anything more meaningful than taking a person who walks in off the street saying, “I want to do a triathlon, but I don’t know anything” and taking that person from zero to completing their first triathlon, in a much shorter time than they expected. In 4 years, I have raced every trainee’s first race with them so that I could witness the joy and sense of accomplishment that they felt at the Finish line.

Now, 4 years later I am focusing on adding new Franchisees like me, who can experience a life which incorporates their passion to their daily work life. We have a winning formula to help maximize your potential and unlike most other Franchises you may have investigated, with Playtri you work directly with the Founders who developed the formula and myself – someone who has taken their formula and been successful.

And maybe most importantly – had FUN while doing it! Please feel free to reach out to me and learn more about owning your own Playtri Triathlon Store.

Own Your Own Triathlon Store!

Through steady franchise expansion and the acquisition of Endurance House Stores, Playtri has created the largest chain of multisport focused retails stores in the United States with 14 locations in 6 states. Learn how you can OWN YOUR PASSION by becoming a PLAYTRI franchisee. Please read the details below and reach out if you have any questions: Request Additional Information

In 2000, PLAYTRI was founded as a triathlon coaching company, adding race production in 2004. In 2011 the husband and wife team of Ahmed Zaher and Staci Brode would open the first of 6 PLAYTRI stores.  Zaher and Brode, both avid athletes, saw the stores as great places for athletes of all levels to gather in the community. Through years of experimentation and experience, Ahmed and Staci felt that they had discovered a formula that was able to be duplicated. From that formula, the Playtri Franchise model evolved for individuals, without business experience in fitness retail, to succeed

Zaher brings a wealth of athletic training to the business as a former member of the Egyptian Olympic swim team and 8-time Hawaii Ironman finisher. Trained as a Mechanical Engineer, Zaher has extensive experience as a Shell and Exxon franchisee. Brode holds a Marketing and Business Honors degree from the University of Texas at Austin and found the sport of triathlon in 2001 while looking for a way to get back in shape; and would join Zaher to found PLAYTRI.

Announced in June 2018, PLAYTRI Franchising LLC acquired Endurance House International LLC. This added additional, established stores.

Rounding out the leadership team as the CEO of PLAYTRI Franchising is Stephan Brown, an experienced senior executive in the consumer products industry: Humminbird Marine Electronics, the Experimental Aircraft Association and most recently as the 10-year CEO of the Commemorative Air Force, Inc – the largest flying, vintage-military aircraft organization in the world.

Brown has competed as an age group triathlete for 36 years and purchased the 2nd Franchise, PLAYTRI Colleyville, in 2017. Using the model developed by Zaher and Brode, Brown went on to prove the concept as Playtri Colleyville came from last to first in Gross Revenue within 2 years of the then 12 Playtri locations.

According to Brown, “with no experience in the biking / triathlon industry, I followed the “Playtri Way” to success. Instead of thinking I knew better, I just took the training and executed it EXACTLTY as instructed; whether I understood it initially or not. This proved to be the right move as Playtri Colleyville became successful and forced other competitors out of a crowded market.” Brown sold his individual store to a new Franchisee, after 4 years and now focuses full-time on adding and training new Franchisees; alongside Zaher and Brode.

“PLAYTRI Franchising LLC plans to actively expand; with the goal of operating in all 50 U.S. States; training and equipping athletes to reach their fitness goals in the most well-rounded athletic endeavor ever conceived. To get there, we are looking to add capable business operators as Franchisees, with a passion for fitness to become the faces of Playtri in their communities”, Brown concluded.

Our Philosophy

Coaching and knowledge are the heart of the business.  Educating athletes in every aspect of swim/bike/run is the passion that drives our approach and our mission.  Offering brick and mortar stores with exceptional service, expansive selection and critical knowledge enable athletes from all backgrounds to have a place they can invest in their health and well being. 

Our Market

Our market is the triathlete, runner, cyclist, swimmer and general health enthusiast looking for a one stop shop for all their health needs. We appeal to those looking for education and/or knowledge to get started or stay motivated in a place they can trust to give them guidance for their goal. Anyone who wants to make a conscious investment in their health is a potential client.

Our Model

We love triathlon and multisport, but our goal is to help people find a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. They pick the goal and we help them get there. We offer the knowledge and guidance for a client to reach their goals combined with the equipment and supplies to help them achieve those goals.

Our responsibility is that customers know when they walk in the door, our goal is to meet their health goals not just sell them something.   We do this through education of the staff on product knowledge from a coaching perspective. 

WHY INVEST

 Playtri offers key resources to set up a franchise to be successful:

·      Strong vendor partner relationships

·      Coaching knowledge combined with retail has proven to be a successful model

·      Our buying power enables our franchisees to capitalize on increased margins from vendors

·      We offer a consignment program on bikes and wheels to “get you going”.  Expansive inventory is crucial to the initial success of a brick and mortar triathlon store and Playtri is committed to making sure our franchisees start off with what they need.

THE SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISEE

Experience has shown us that the most successful Playtri Franchisees have solid business experience as an Entrepreneur or within a corporate environment. This experience, more than technical knowledge about bicycles, equipment or training is most valuable. As with any new business it may take time to establish itself and to grow to maturity and expectations. Therefore, an Owner who has the financial wherewithal to establish the store with strong inventory and lower return expectations for the first 2 years allows the business to grow strong roots for the long term. Our successful Franchisees have established a culture in their Playtri location which reflects their own personality within the successful structure that the Playtri formula outlines – this is the “Playtri Way.” This makes your business profitable and often most important…FUN!

Participating in the business opportunity we offer requires certain financial qualification.

·      Net Worth:  Minimum of $500,000

·      Liquid Assets:  Minimum of $150,000

·      Franchise Fee: $29,500

·      Total Investment: $173,500 to $399,667

·      Royalty:  5%

·      Current Bike/Run Shop Owners: Receive a $10,000 discount on the franchise fee and a reduced royalty fee for the first two years of business.

·      Initial Investment: Click Here

Playtri offers a comprehensive classroom and in-store training that covers all aspects of what you need to know as a Playtri franchisee. 

•                2 Full Weeks of Training – national office and in-store

•                Ongoing Phone & Email Support

•                Annual visitation and “brush-up” training

•                Online System to Access Training Materials, Franchise Manual, Marketing Tools

•                Best Practices for Buying, Selling, Inventory and Cash Management

•                Trusted Corporate Vendor Partners

•                Site selection support

•                Pre – designed local marketing support

•                Store Opening Assistance

WHAT MARKETS ARE AVAILABLE?

We are currently the largest chain of triathlon focused retail stores in the U.S., with 14 locations in 6 states. We aim to have a retail location in major cities across the country where we can service our target customers.  It is important for us to be able to provide the best support possible to ensure a strong successful franchise system to our franchisees so we will carefully evaluate expansion plans as we grow.     

WHAT ARE THE ROYALTY AND ADVERTISING FEES?

Franchisees can expect to pay a 5% royalty fee of gross sales. Franchisees will contribute up to 1% of gross sales to a National Advertising Fund as well as 2% for local store marketing activities. All fees, estimated initial investment costs, contracts, corporate financial statements, and other valuable information are included in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).

ARE THERE ANY EXISTING ESTABLISHED LOCATIONS AVAILABLE?

Yes, we have several outstanding “Corporate” Playtri Stores with existing management and employees waiting to be “turbo-charged” by a hands-on Owners. Call for more details. As with most Franchises, you can purchase an existing store from the current Franchisee (certain restrictions and qualifications apply) if they happen to be interested in selling. Stores Available

WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE FROM PLAYTRI?

Playtri has a dedicated team that offers ongoing email and phone support. We provide site selection assistance, classroom and in-store training that cover all aspects of running a retail store, training and support to help build a profitable business and an in-person brand launch.  We are here to make sure Playtri’s opening in your market is a success.  

WHAT SIZE IS A PLAYTRI RETAIL STORE?

The standard recommended store size is 1,000 to 3,200 sq. ft.  There are numerous things to consider when choosing a location and size.  Playtri will assist you with these decisions as part of the site selection process. Click here for store layout examples.

WHAT DOES PLAYTRI EXPECT FROM A FRANCHISEE?

Playtri is looking for franchisee’s that have a passion for helping people get healthy and are willing to work hard while following the system we have set forth.    

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO OPEN A PLAYTRI STORE?

The general timeline is approximately 6-8 months from the time the Franchise Agreement is signed to the grand opening.  Different factors can affect this timeline.

DISCLAIMER:

None of the communications made through this Web site should be construed as an offer to sell any franchise in, nor is any such communication directed to, the residents of any jurisdiction requiring registration of the franchise before it is offered or sold in the jurisdiction.  No franchises will be sold to any resident of any such jurisdiction until the offer has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required Franchise Disclosure Document (if any) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law,  If you have any questions concerning the registration status of franchises in your jurisdiction, please contact us at Franchise@playtri.com. 

Playtri Triathlon Store Owners connect with their customers often and play a pivotal role in their customers' triathlon journeys.

Learn more about THE WHY of Playtri Ownership with Owner, Chris Swanzy in the video below.

We are happy to answer any and all inquiring about our franchise program. 

Back to top