Stephen Martin, owner of a sporting goods store in Colorado, is shutting down his shop after 20 years of business due to low sales. Martin began seeing fewer customers after deciding to boycott all Nike products following the company's endorsement of Colin Kaepernick.
Prime Time Sports had a loyal customer base in local sports fans in Colorado Springs, but according to KOAA, this wasn't enough to save the owner from his bad decision.
“Being a sports store without Nike is kind of like being a milk store without milk or a gas station without gas," said Martin. "How do you do it? They have a monopoly on jerseys."
The businessman was busy recently thanks to a 40 percent off clearance sale, but said, “I just can’t keep the doors open anymore."
Martin's store had the monopoly of licensed NFL goods in his area; however, he said without profits from jersey sales, his lease has become too expensive.
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The lack of Nike apparel isn't the only reason people stopped shopping at his store.
Kaepernick supporters were turned off even before Martin's Nike embargo when the owner cancelled an autograph event with Brandon Marshall over the New York Jets player's support of the #TakeAKnee movement.
Following that decision in 2016, Martin says he saw a 15 percent decrease in sales.
"As much as I hate to admit this," Martin said, "Perhaps there are more Brandon Marshall and Colin Kaepernick supporters out there than I realized."
The Hill reports Martin has no plans or hopes of reopening, but will keep his doors open until he sells the last of his inventory.
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