Port St. Lucie, Florida One of the secrets behind the success of the Bass Pro Shops retail store locations is the dedication and drive of the stores' General Managers and a great team of associates. Ask any of them what they believe to be crucial to the store's success and they will say, "world-class customer service" and a "pledge to preserve the great outdoors for future generations." With ideals such as these it is no wonder Bass Pro Shops has been voted best in delivering service excellence two years in a row by J.D. Power and Associates.
Newly-named store manager Craig Scarborough believes passionately in both these Bass Pro Shops hallmarks. He will head up the new 90,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shops Sportsman's Center opening in Port St. Lucie later this year.
"World-class service will be of the utmost importance in our new store as this is one of the qualities that truly distinguish Bass Pro Shops from other outdoor stores," said Scarborough.
"I hold the belief that our associates are our greatest asset," he continued. "Our associates will have a great love of the outdoors and a desire to share that passion with our customers. Their knowledge and enthusiasm will build customer loyalty and our large selection will enable customers to shop for all their outdoor needs in one place."
A job fair will be held at a later date to hire approximately 200 associates from the area-something Scarborough feels is of vital importance.
"The associates and managers will all be from the local area and will combine their knowledge and expertise when we have weekly 'how-to' seminars," he said.
Recognized for their outdoor education programs, Bass Pro Shops is dedicated to providing an area where adults, kids, women and families can learn skills that will enable them to maximize their outdoor adventures. "Whether they are just beginning in the outdoors or want to learn some new and different skills, they can come to our store and attend free workshops such as beginning fishing, setting up a campsite, Dutch oven cooking, nature photography, fly fishing, hunter education and safety classes and many more," said Scarborough.
An outdoorsman himself, Scarborough says he 'loves nothing more than being outside in nature.' "Like many individuals in Florida, I was born outside the state in the upper Midwest near Cincinnati," he says. "I spent every summer of my youth in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee hiking, camping, fishing, backpacking and developing a 'love of the outdoors' nurtured by my parents." Now, with his wife Kerri and four-year-old son Bryce, Scarborough says they enjoy the great outdoors 12 months of the year in south Florida. "My son has been outside since he was less than a week old!" he laughed.
"I enjoy watching kids get excited when they discover new things in the outdoors," said Scarborough. "And, I believe in giving back to our outdoors so our children can enjoy what we enjoy today."
He, like Bass Pro Shops, believes it is critical to our outdoor heritage to educate the next generation and support conservation initiatives. In fact, Bass Pro Shops features a Special Evening for Conservation, which is open to the public, the night prior to the store's official Grand Opening.
Honored many times for their conservation efforts, Bass Pro Shops the store will partner with local and regional conservation groups helping ensure there is an outdoors for future generations to enjoy. More details about these events will be available in the upcoming months.
With nearly 35 years of retail management, Scarborough has been a store manager, district manager, regional vice-president and vice-president /divisional merchandise manager for Quality Farm and Fleet, a Midwestern rural/suburban outdoor company. He later spent five years as a general manager of a Lowe's Home Improvement store in Naples, Florida. "Now, I am honored to have spent five years in Fort Myers, Florida with Bass Pro Shops as an Assistant Manager/Merchandise Manager," he said. "This experience has allowed me to continue to grow my passion for the outdoors around both customers and associates who share the same passion. I look forward to bringing that same passion for the outdoors to my new job and the community of Port St. Lucie," Scarborough continued.
Bass Pro Shops visitors can shop a huge selection of quality outdoor gear, clothing and accessories from top industry names and at value prices. The store, located at 2250 Gatlin Boulevard, will also feature the complete line of world-famous Tracker® and Nitro® in an expansive showroom and boat service center.
More than just a hunting and fishing store, however, the Port St. Lucie store will also offer equipment for hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping, outdoor cooking and more. A gift and nature center will also serve up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to furniture and birdfeeders.
About Bass Pro Shops®:
Bass Pro Shops® operates 77 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers in 26 states and Canada visited by over 116 million people annually. Bass Pro Shops® also conducts an international catalog and internet retailing operation-the American Rod & Gun® wholesale division--which sells to more than 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide. Outdoor World® Incentives also sells Bass Pro Shops® gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America. The Bass Pro Shops® restaurant division has 28 locations. The company's Tracker Marine Group® (www.trackerboats.com) manufactures and sells Tracker®, Nitro®, SunTracker®, Tahoe®, Grizzly® and Mako® boats through Bass Pro Shops® retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide. The Resort Group (www.bigcedar.com) includes Big Cedar Lodge® and other resort properties including restaurants and golf courses. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops® store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.
