Turner's Outdoorsman purchased

[onlyaudio]

Turner’s Outdoorsman is purchased; will be run by its former operations manager.

O N T A R I O — T u r n e r ’ s Outdoorsman, a 13-store chain of retail stores in Southern California specializing in firearms, hunting, and fishing gear, was purchased Monday (June 8, 2009) by four investors.

The investors include one name very familiar to Turner’s insiders, Gene Lumsden, who currently lives in Reno, Nevada. The new owners also include John and David Fuller from Australia and the Sporting Goods Fund, a sporting goods group out of the United Kingdom.

Lumsden, who was formerly vice president and operations manager of Turner’s when it was still owned by Shirley Andrews, will become the president and chief executive officer of the firearms chain.

The amount of the sale was undisclosed, but the new partnership now owns the controlling interest in the company and will be taking over day-to-day management immediately.

Lumsden, the Fuller brothers, and the Sporting Goods Fund are also currently partners in the ownership of Legacy Sports International, a firearms importing business in Reno, Nev., that brings sporting rifles, shotguns, handguns and optics into this country. Legacy Sports has made the Howa bolt action rifle, Puma lever-action rifle, and Escort shotgun lines well-known across the country through aggressive marketing and advertising campaigns and competitive pricing.

The Fuller brothers have been in the outdoor sporting goods and firearms distribution business in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, running a company started by their father over 50 years ago.

Turner’s Outdoorsman started business in 1971 as Andrews’ Sporting Goods with a single store in Long Beach, and grew to become the largest seller of handguns in California and one of the most respected firearm and fishing tackle retailers in the nation under the leadership of Shirley Andrews. Andrews sold the company in 2005 to an investment group from outside the industry, almost four years ago to the day of Monday’s sale.

Turner’s Outdoorsman languished under the new management and was rumored to be flirting with bankruptcy. But Lumsden said all that is changing as of this week.

“Finally there are people back in charge who know and love this business,” said Lumsden, who ran Turner’s from 2001 to 2004, some of the company’s most profitable years. Lumsden, a California native who was inducted into the California Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 2005, said the new controlling owners, are all avid outdoorsmen. “And many of the people who were here at Turner’s during its successful past will be here for its future, making this company very viable and helping it move forward.”

Lumsden said that Turner’s Bryan Harris will become vice-president of the company and continue to direct buying, purchasing, and vendor relations, and that Bill Ortiz will stay as director of store operations overseeing personnel.

“Knowing Turner’s reputation and the company Shirley had built, and seeing the potential, we’re looking forward to building and moving forward from where it was in 2005,” said Lumsden

Turner’s Outdoorsman has retail stores in Chino, Corona, Fountain Valley, Kearny Mesa, Norwalk, Orange, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Marcos, Signal Hill, West Covina, and its corporate office is located in Ontario

[FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Turner’s Outdoorsman in Ontario at 909-923-3009.]

[protectmine]

yeah didn't see that coming - NOT. inventory in the store was down to almost zero on everything

[sholling]

They had to be dieing with no inventory to sell.

[Dan M.]

I used to go to Andrews when it was on Long Beach Blvd. Sure hope this turns things around.

[X-ffdo]

Clean out the gun shop commandos behind the counters and get some customer oriented, respectful people to help the customer. That is the first line of contact.

[sholling]

Originally Posted by X-ffdo

Clean out the gun shop commandos behind the counters and get some customer oriented, respectful people to help the customer. That is the first line of contact.

I have to agree with that. Most of the store managers have been great to deal with. Of the counter help I've always liked dealing with the retirees the best. They seemed to know what they were talking about. The guys that are there just to support their gun buying habits or to make a few extra dollars, or just because they love the business. It's hard to hire the best and brightest 20 somethings for $10-12/hr.

[scr83jp]

I've met some really knowledgeable salesmen but they didn't stay & the replacements were know nothing know it alls who ignored me when I tried to make a purchase.I got even when I overheard them giving a customer a sales pitch on a certain high $ rifle, I interrupted and gave the customer my advice to save some $ & buy a savage with accutrigger.I received instant attention and that's the last time I shopped there 2 years ago.

[ADAM]

turners down in west covina has one gentlmen name Carry real nice fellow and no bs he is the only reason i go there

[NikNak]

Well, let's hope that those in need of a job who have good knowledge can help out in this area ....

[5r mil-spec]

Dustin in Chino seems to really know his stuff and has always been professional and helpful...tooktime to explain and write down method to break in hand lapped barrel...that was totally foreign to me. A few of the other guys there just want to sell you anything. One yougn guy was trying to seel me some hunting rounds when I asked for some higher match grade 308 for target.

[hd173880]

I personally love to deal with Henry at the Fountain Valley store. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and most of all, as a retiree he does it because he loves it

[Akzl]

Go see Fred at the Orange store on Tustin Ave. Smart, helpful and polite! Hopefully the management treats him right so he stays around.

[sholling]

Originally Posted by Akzl

Go see Fred at the Orange store on Tustin Ave. Smart, helpful and polite! Hopefully the management treats him right so he stays around.

Fred is awesome people! I've know that man close to 30 years and he's as good hearted and honest as they come.

[THE Gimper]

Originally Posted by Akzl

Go see Fred at the Orange store on Tustin Ave. Smart, helpful and polite! Hopefully the management treats him right so he stays around.

Is Fred still there? Yes. He is good people.

[Ken_In_Colo]

Originally Posted by X-ffdo

Clean out the gun shop commandos behind the counters and get some customer oriented, respectful people to help the customer. That is the first line of contact.

Speaking of gun shop commandos, I know exactly who/what you are talking about. I stood down @ the end of the gun counter, wanting some information on some hearing protection @ a Sportsman's Warehouse, while 4 commandos stood at the other end of the counter BSing w/each other.

Finally, after about 5 minutes, I went down & asked them "Hey, would one of you like to wait on me or do I need to get the manager?" That got results.