Baseball goods store takes pride in expert employees

Technology and baseball, at first glance, may not seem like they go together. But according to Tim Dutton, owner of Dugout Sports in The Woodlands, every part of the sport—from the design of the bats to the shaping of the gloves—is influenced by some aspect of technology.

"Technology goes into basically everything," he said. "The manufacturers, especially in the bat industry, spend multimillions of dollars every year in research and development to come up with the best product."

Dutton said staying up to date on the latest technology and stocking top-of-the-line products is key and a primary reason why his store generates customers.

"That's what we're all about here. That's what we require our people to know and understand," he said. "Our least expensive bat is $150 and our more expensive ones are $400. It's up to our people to know what the differences are down the line and be able to share that with the customers."

Dugout Sports opened in the Wood Ridge Plaza in August 2004. Dutton said he was inspired to open his own sporting goods store after being routinely unsatisfied with the service offered at other big box competitors.

Dutton said his customers regularly confirm for him that his store offers a level of service that others do not. Business has grown by about 25 percent each year for the past three years, he said.

"They appreciate the time we spend with them in trying to help them make the right decisions," he said. "I'm fanatical about how our customers are treated and the service that we provide."

Dugout Sports offers a range of baseball and softball products in different departments: bats, batting and fielding gloves, catching gear, apparel, equipment bags, helmets and accessories.

In addition to its individual retail customers, Dugout Sports also works with about 150–200 Little League teams over the course of the a year. The company also staffs a graphic artist and produces uniforms for teams throughout the state, as well as a few in Louisiana.

When Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, many city leagues cancelled their fall seasons, nearly putting Dutton out of business. It was his partnerships forged through producing uniforms for schools that helped him stay afloat.

Dutton is the coach of a softball team, the Texas Sudden Impact. He said he has been coaching for 18 years and became interested in learning about the different products while coaching his daughter's team.

"I just love baseball and softball," he said. "In the eight years I've been doing this, there's never been a morning where I woke up and didn't want to go to work."

Expansion plans

Dugout Sports will be undergoing an expansion mid-April to add about 1,200 square feet to its facility. Owner Tim Dutton said the expansion is key to evolving his business.

His future plans include:

• Purchasing new equipment for pro- ducing window and helmet decals and vinyl stickers
• Expanding uniform production operations
• More space for stocking products

Dugout Sports, 26302 I-45, Ste. C, The Woodlands, 281-367-4076, www.dugoutsports.com