Shooting for Success at All Seasons Sports Center

  • By Lisa Amstutz
  • January 4, 2011
  • 324
                        
“Survival for us in the motorcycle industry has always been about diversification,” said Tom Swisher, owner of All Seasons Sports Center in Wooster. “Over the years, we’ve added mini-bikes, snowmobiles, ATVs, 3-wheelers and touring bikes. The only thing consistent in this business is the inconsistency. You have to constantly shift gears.” The latest shift to take place at All Seasons is their move into the gun business, which began with online and in-store gun sales two years ago. Now they are expanding that business to include an indoor shooting range, a plan that was unanimously approved by the Wooster City Council in December. It will be located at All Seasons and will have 3-12 stations. “I have found some investors and am still looking for more to do a more grandiose operation,” Swisher said. All Seasons has a trainer already on staff who is a former police officer. They hope to open the range in March. The new shooting range will be the first in the county. “Wayne County needs one,” Swisher said. The range will be open to the public, gun clubs, and law enforcement, and will provide a wide variety of home, personal and self-defense courses. Their resident trainer is certified to teach police officer updates and concealed carry courses. Swisher is also looking into putting an archery range on the premises. Along with the expansion, All Seasons will quadruple its gun and accessory inventory. Additional inventory is available through their online store at www.galleryofguns.com. All Seasons was named a platinum dealer in June, putting them in the top 3% of 30,000 dealers nationwide. They sell most brands, with over 100 manufacturers to choose from. “Although the increase in the gun business doesn’t mean we’re getting out of the cycle business, we may scale down our motorcycle and ATV inventory and increase our guns, ammo and courses,” Swisher said. The recent economy has been tough on motorcycle dealers. “No one foresaw that the motorcycle industry would get this bad,” Swisher said. “Motorcycles will never go away—they’re just in a slump right now. With gas due to exceed $4/gallon soon, motorcycles and scooters should make a comeback.” Most motorcycles get between 40 and 125 mpg, and while they are not a year-round mode of transportation in Ohio, with cold-weather gear, the season can be lengthened to nine months, making them an economical choice for commuting. Swisher has shifted gears many times since he first opened shop in a converted chicken coop in 1966. He sold a motorcycle made by Rupp Industries in Mansfield, and later added Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW and Motoguzzi cycles. In 1971 the business moved to Smithville, and in 1976, to its current location on Rt. 585. The current building was constructed in 2000. “Our business philosophy is simple: treat people fairly,” Swisher said. “That includes our customers, employees and vendors. That’s what we’ve always tried to do, and it has paid off. We’re looking forward to many more years. We’ll grow slowly, but will continue to grow. We’re here for the long haul.” All Seasons is located at 2700 Akron Road, Wooster. For more information, visit their website at www.motorcyclesohio.com/index.html or call 330-264-7735.


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