Fleet Feet PDX Stores in Portland And Vancouver Announce New Ownership

By: Fleet Feet | 0 Shares 487 Reads

Avid-runner and Portland resident Michael Rothschild acquires businesses from original owners Wade and Julie Pannell

January 14, 2021 // Franchising.com // CARRBORO, N.C. - Fleet Feet announced today a change in ownership at its Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA locations. Michael Rothschild, a Portland resident and seasoned retail business and sales manager, becomes the owner of both Fleet Feet locations, buying the stores from owners Wade and Julie Pannell.

Originally opened as Fit Right, a pacific northwest specialty running and walking brand, Fleet Feet acquired the stores in November 2014 and sold to Wade and Julie Pannell in October 2017.

“Wade and Julie are incredible Fleet Feet owners, and we’re so thankful for all they’ve accomplished at the Portland and Vancouver stores,” says Robyn Goby, vice president of development for Fleet Feet. “We’re thrilled to have found someone with the same passion and commitment that Wade and Julie had. I’m confident that Michael will be the perfect fit for Fleet Feet PDX, and that he will be successful in sharing his passion for running with the local communities.”

Prior to Fleet Feet, Rothschild spent 15 years in retail as a car salesman with a Ford dealership. Originally from California, Rothschild most recently lived in Seattle with wife, Kim, and their three daughters. Today, the Rothschild family is making the move to Portland to make Michael’s passion for running and staying active come alive through his new Fleet Feet ownership.

“I worked for a car dealership that put customers first, employed car enthusiasts and focused on maintaining a good reputation, and I plan to incorporate those same morals and attributes at my Fleet Feet stores,” says Rothschild. “I learned during my tenure as a car salesman that I needed to go after my true passion and set an example for my daughters to do the same. Once I came across the opportunity with Feet Fleet, it reaffirmed what I saw for myself in the future and I am so excited to share my vision with the local runners.”

Fleet Feet PDX will offer the brand’s exclusive and recently updated personalized outfitting experience, fit id®, which in September, added dynamic pressure mapping to its existing 3D foot scanning technology. The pressure mapping allows outfitters to measure the unique foot path and weight distribution of each foot as customers walks across a three-and-a-half-foot long force plate. These measurements give Fleet Feet the ability to offer individualized footwear solutions through Superfeet’s ME3D line of personalized insoles.

SOURCE Fleet Feet

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