Vegas set to get the goods

      Las Vegas' competitive sports equipment retail industry will become even more competitive this summer when California-based Copeland's Sports steps to the plate and opens three superstores throughout the valley.
      Copeland's expects to open 50,000-square-foot stores in June in the Best on the Boulevard shopping center on Maryland Parkway at Katie Street, and The Crossroads at Sunset on Sunset Road and Stephanie Street. A third store will open in August at the Best in the West center on Rainbow and Lake Mead boulevards, said Helio Fiahlo, Copeland's director of operations. The privately held company is based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., with 50 stores in California, Oregon and Reno.
      The competition is good news for consumers looking for low prices on athletic and fitness equipment, but it may strike a deathblow to the small businesses struggling to compete with giants such as Sports Authority, Jumbosports and Big 5 Sporting Goods.
      "There's been a movement by customers away from the smaller retailers to the superstores, and that's going to continue," said Paul Holmgren, vice president of asset enhancement at R.O.I. Commercial Real Estate. Holmgren monitors retail trends in Las Vegas.
      The competitive fallout is already evident. Houston-based Oshman's Sporting Goods will close its two Las Vegas stores in June -- part of a restructuring plan to close 75 unprofitable outlets and focus on its SuperSports USA megastores.
      Several local "mom and pop" sports equipment stores have gone out of business in recent years because of the superstores, retailers said.
      "It's become very difficult for the small guy. There were more independents (retailers) before the big boxes (superstores) came in," said local sports equipment retailer Rob Campbell.
      Campbell and father, Jack, have owned Sportco for more than seven years and survived by reducing the variety of sporting goods' merchandise and focusing on youth sports and adult leagues.
      "I'll stack my baseball department against the big stores, but I don't have hiking and camping equipment and fan (logo) apparel," he said. The strategy is working, he added. The company will expand to a larger store at Eastern Avenue and Sunset Road in December.
      Another longtime retailer, Turf Sporting Goods, abandoned retail sales and now handles team sales.
      "The superstores have had a huge impact in what they're doing to the mom and pop stores and the independents that are left in Las Vegas," said Turf President John Waroe.
      Campbell said superstores' low prices, which mean low profit margins, may eventually lead to their downfall -- a trend that surfaced in other superstore industries such as home improvement and consumer electronics.