Colorado Sports Store That Refused to Sell Nike Closes

One of the most popular business models around is "the customer is always right". However Stephen Martin, the owner of Prime Time Sports in a Colorado mall, thought differently. When Nike introduced that Colin Kaepernick would be the face of their newest campaign, Martin immediately stopped selling any merchandise that had the ever so iconic swoosh on it. The Washington Post wrote an article that explains his decision in detail, but even when you read it, the reasoning is still difficult to wrap your head around.

Being a small business owner in a world that is dominated by cooperations is hard enough on its own, but when you don't give the customers the pair of shoes or shorts that they want because it has a logo on it, then it starts to become a bit intense. I fully respect Kaepernick for using his platform, as well as his first amendment right to free speech, to protest and bring attention to a social justice issue that is extremely prominent within our nation. On the other hand, Stephen Martin exercised his constitutional right of free speech as well, which is also admirable in itself. What is ironic here is that both of these men fully embodied Nike's campaign slogan, which was, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.". Kaepernick lost his job as a Quarterback in the NFL because he was a "distraction" while Martin's business has gone under. The cause of this? Standing up for something that was bigger than both of them. So, it appears that even though these men fight for things that are counter intuitive of one another, they are more alike than they are different.

The road has been full of twists and turns for Martin and Prime Time Sports, but the grooved pavement has run out. It started three years ago when protesting during the National Anthem started to take place, which prompted him to cancel an autograph signing with Broncos Linebacker Brandon Marshall. With these protests and social issues only becoming more prominent with each and every passing day, Martin's frustration only went upwards, and the abrupt decision to not sell Nike was the last domino to fall. His business is now closing due to his financial situation. His customers decided to take their business elsewhere, like Dick's Sporting Goods, so they could buy the products that they wanted to and not what an owner decided. Nevertheless, Martin showed how to properly use an Americans first amendment right, even though it cost him his business.