We have teamed up with BSN Sports Columbus to produce the official 2022 series shirt that each RUNColumbus participant receives, in addition to other branded gear. Get to know BSN and our partners Aaron Utrup and Ryan Wong who run the RUNColumbus Online Shop.
Tell us a little bit about BSN Columbus. The BSN SPORTS Columbus office is located at 6950 Worthington-Galena Rd in Worthington and serves about 300 schools and athletic programs in the Columbus area. We are a local team of individuals who are former athletes, coaches, or supporters of our local communities. As part of the BSN SPORTS family, our goal is to provide coaches, teachers, and administrators with team sports tools and resources that not only create for a great athletic season but also remove the hassle and time of order processes our coaches typically experience.
Additionally, BSN SPORTS is supported by our parent company, Varsity Brands, and sister companies, Herff Jones and Varsity Spirit. Our BSN SPORTS Columbus team coordinates with those brands and our local sales counterparts to make sure schools, programs, and administrators have extensive access to product and resources experts for all of their sport, spirit, and achievement needs.
What services does BSN Columbus offer? From team uniforms and travel gear to training equipment and athletic facility renovations, BSN SPORTS offers a one-stop-shop experience and premium access to brands including Nike, Under Armour, New Balance, Wilson, Badger, Oakley, Easton, and many more that give a coach peace of mind that they can source all of their teams’ needs through one comprehensive local team.
To enhance the product further, we bring forth industry-leading technology, like our Team Art Locker Platform for custom product and Uniform design as well as Campus Branding tools to support coaches in driving brand awareness and support for their athletes. Sales Professionals aim to keep our coaches and customers updated with access to hundreds of free coaching webinars, free mental wellness and leadership curriculums, and sport-specific experts from our team of previous professional and Olympic athletes on staff with BSN SPORTS. In short, BSN SPORTS Columbus offers not only the products, gear, and uniforms athletes and students can be proud of, but the supporting resources that truly help a coach make a positive impact.
How many Central Ohioans does BSN Columbus employ? Of our 1100 sales professionals nationwide, 90 of those employees are located within the state of Ohio alone which creates a distinct connection to our local Central Ohio community. Specifically, our Columbus team of 17 sales professionals and customer support teams is made up of parents, coaches, and community leaders that live in the Central Ohio area and support our local schools and athletic programs.
How was BSN Columbus impacted by the pandemic, and Is business back to “normal?” When the pandemic hit, our winter sports were at the state tournament level, with some teams mid-competition, and all events were canceled for health and safety purposes. Our coaches and athletes navigated sport season cancellations throughout the spring, so our team shifted focus from creating sales to simply being a support system for our customers. With so many unknowns within the pandemic, BSN SPORTS began producing PPE items like custom branded masks, social distancing signage, and Unity Apparel Team shops to help not only keep athletes safe but engaged and connected to their programs.
Since that time, sports seasons have resumed and we are steadily working to outfit our local athletic programs as they prepare for this next school and continue summer league sports.
What is distinctive about BSN Columbus? I believe that BSN SPORTS Columbus is distinctive in the marketplace not only for our inventory selection, digital platforms, and strength of scale nationwide but because of our Columbus teammates that want to uplift and serve our community. While our company provides an unmatched selection of uniforms, team and fanwear apparel, and equipment and from top brands, our BSN SPORTS Columbus team is ultimately driven by the impact those resources can have in a coaches’ day – giving them more time to spend with their athletes. As the official partner of the OHSAA, BSN SPORTS – and our parent company Varsity Brands – have curated trust and a unique rapport with the Ohio Athletic community and look forward to driving our local market of coaches and athletes forward by leveraging the long-standing relationships we’ve built with industry-leading brands.