Vance Outdoors Honored as 2014 Ruger Retailer of the Year
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) is pleased to announce that Vance Outdoors of Ohio has been named the 2014 Ruger Retailer of the Year. Founder Richard Vance and his sons, Todd and Doug, were recognized for their support of Ruger, their merchandising strategy, their range programs and their industry leadership in firearms retailing. Richard, Todd and Doug each received an engraved Ruger® Mark III™ pistol in recognition of their outstanding performance. The awards were presented on April 11th during the 144th Annual Meeting of the National Rifle Association in Nashville, TN.
“Vance Outdoors is an outstanding example of how dedicated and innovative business owners can have tremendous success as firearms retailers,” said Ruger President and COO Chris Killoy. “Their stores, range and knowledgeable staff exemplify what independent retailers should be doing to reach existing and new consumer markets,” he added.
“The Ruger Retailer of the Year Award recognizes firearms retailers that are industry leaders,” said Shawn Leska, Ruger Director of Sales. “Vance Outdoors is the perfect recipient for our fifth annual award. Their 76 years of operation are proof of their great success in the Ohio market,” Leska concluded.
Richard H. Vance started Vance’s in 1938 as a general store and he passed his love of hunting and shooting on to his son Richard M. Vance. In 1978, they changed their business from a grocery store selling firearms, archery and police equipment as a sideline business to a full-time sporting goods store. In 2002, Vance’s merged their business with Buckeye Outdoors, located just minutes away from Buckeye Lake.
“We are genuinely honored by this award,” said Richard Vance. “Ruger is a great company supported by numerous, excellent retail outlets. To be selected for this award is welcome recognition of the hard work of our employees and a testament to how we do business at Vance Outdoors. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
In the fall of 2014, Vance’s decided to expand the Vance Outdoors name and opened a third retail location in Obetz, Ohio. The brand new Obetz store is 56,000 square feet and is equipped with a state-of-the-art 24-lane Shooting Range & Training Center.
“We are proud that we have evolved into five large and very successful operations: Vance Outdoors Columbus, Vance’s Law Enforcement, Vance Outdoors Hebron, Vance Outdoors Obetz and Vance Outdoors Marine,” stated Todd Vance. “Our mission has always been and will always be to make sure that our customers have a great shopping experience at Vance’s. I believe this award recognizes our commitment to that mission.”
Rich’s wife Lana and sons Todd and Doug have worked in the family business for many years and have played a major role in the steady growth. Todd runs the retail operations and Doug spearheads the Law Enforcement Division. You can learn more about Vance Outdoors at www.vanceoutdoors.com