The summer is winding down and hockey season is heating up. Hockey can be fun and rewarding sport to be involved in, but it can also be very expensive.
For the past 40 years, Butler Sporting Goods has ensured children and young people across Cape Cod have the right equipment for the sport.
When Jim Butler moved to Cape Cod, he noticed the lack of a dedicated sporting goods store on Cape. In 1977, he opened Butler Sporting Goods across from Barnstable High School and they’ve been there ever since. “We definitely see the same people coming in. We get to know them. Now, we’re seeing even great grandchildren of customers come in the door,” said General Manager Sam Fedele.
With hockey season fast approaching, Butler Sporting Goods has some top tips for buying the right equipment.
One Stop Shop
If you buy equipment in a bundle from Butler Sporting Goods, you get a better deal in addition to personalized service. “We offer instore package deals for most sports where we discount the sale when multiple items are needed. This is a great deal when you have a player who is starting a new sport or had a growth spurt where he needs to replace a number of items at once,” said Fidele. In addition Butler Sporting Goods has teamed up with several schools across the Cape and Islands. “Our online stores are dedicated to team wear and spirit packs right now. The customer can choose to get the lowest possible price or build a few dollars in where those funds go back into the program. It’s a great way to fundraise,” explained Fedele.
Get the Right Fit
General Manager Sam Fidele believes that the majority of injuries are due to ill-fitting equipment. Butler Sporting Goods not only ensures the gear fits properly at the time of purchase but anytime throughout the year. If your child has suddenly gone through a growth spurt, the team at Butler’s are more than happy to check what still works and what doesn’t. “That’s one benefit of working here. You are going to be talking to people who know hockey, who play hockey, and know how to fit things properly,” said Fidele, “They’ll advise on what the kid can grow into and what need to fit exactly. Each one is a case by case basis.”
Second Hand Equipment
Butler Sporting Goods is more than happy to check out second hand gear for fit and safety. If you’re looking to cut costs by using hand me downs, Butler Sporting Goods are happy to help. “If you have hand me downs from another kid, you can bring it in and see if it fits properly. And let you know what works and what you need. We’d rather gain a customer and build a relationship then make a sale that you don’t really need,” said Fidele. Now you can clear out your basement or garage and find out if it still has life.
Get what you need
Often when you first start playing a sport you can easily end up with several bits of equipment that you never end up using. The team at Butler Sporting Goods takes the time with each person who walks through the door to really assess what level the child will be playing to figure out what’s best for them. “We try to get them what they need, not necessarily what someone’s maybe trying to push on them,” said Fidele. After all playing sports should be fun and not break the bank.
In Store Services
Unlike online retailers or big box stores, Butler Sporting Goods offers in store service and repair. They offer various levels of skate repair such as: blade breakages, holder breakage, boot repair, eyelets in addition to skate sharpening. They will also restring baseball gloves and regrip baseball bats. “Anything you want to bring in, we’ll look at it and figure out what we need to do to get it usable again,” said Fidele. They’ll also deliver and install equipment such as basketball systems and ping pong tables.
If your child is playing hockey in a league, at school, or just looking to take up skating to start, visit Butler Sporting Goods across from Barnstable High School on West Main Street in Hyannis. “We try to make it affordable, it’s easy to understand, it fits properly and therefore it’s going to work for them,” said Fidele. For all your sporting good needs, go where Cape Codders have been going for 40 years, Butler Sporting Goods.
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