Sportsman’s Warehouse: ‘Not surprised’ about tough retail environment

By Christen Smith

Sportman’s Warehouse operates more than 80 locations in 22 states, with an ultimate goal of opening 300 natiowide. (Photo: Sportman’s Warehouse/Facebook)
Top executives for Sportman’s Warehouse said this week the difficult retail environment for guns and ammunition isn’t surprising.
CEO John Schaefer told investors Thursday the company expected softened firearms demand throughout 2017 as it reported second quarter net sales increased less than 1 percent over last year.
“We saw this coming with the Orlando tragedy and the run up to the election, so we knew this would be a tough year,” he said. “But I think … firearms are doing exactly what we thought. We’re somewhat lucky in that. We’re in a high-use part of the country as opposed to a use/protection part of the country. So we have a little more stabilization.”
Estimated gun sales plummeted 26 percent in July compared to last year as manufacturers and retailers predict a return to the industry’s “seasonal trends” in the non-election year.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation processed just north of 1.7 million applications through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System last month — the third busiest July on record.
June gun sales likewise dipped 12 percent over 2016 to just over 947,000 estimated transfers, according to the

Source: Guns.com