As he approached retirement, Ken Petska felt he still needed something to fill his time. His love for hunting and fishing ignited the purposeful idea to open a sporting goods store in Ord, Nebraska. Not only would Ken be able to spend his time on a hobby he loved, he would have the opportunity to serve Ord and the surrounding area.
Ken’s passion for outdoorsman adventures and the people of our local community is what has grown the store since it opened in November 2006. The store started with 100 guns in two rooms and they have since expanded to carry an inventory of over 1,000 guns in three rooms in the hoop-shaped building located along Highway 11. Many of the firearms they have in their inventory are collectible Winchesters and Colts. “Our customers say it is the largest selection of guns in Nebraska,” says Evelyn Detlefsen, another friendly face you will find at the Sports Shed. Their customer service is what sets themselves apart from their big box store competitors – not only will you be greeted with a smile, if they do not have the gun you are searching for, they can get it within approximately three days. Additionally, the team at the Sports Shed genuinely enjoys getting to visit with their customers and learning more about their passion for outdoor adventure. “It is enjoyable for Ken to visit with customers, which has grown to the surrounding states, about the collectables he has been acquiring for more of his life.”
In additional to firearms, the offerings at the Sports Shed have diversified throughout the past few years. They also carry deer and elk skin gloves which they sell retail and wholesale in and out of state. They also carry a large selection of fishing equipment and bait. They have also expanded into ranch products by carrying Pneu-Dart, a tranquilizer gun used for livestock. Sales of this new product have grown exponentially. They also have a wide selection of home décor items that go along with the outdoorsman theme of their store.
When asked about their stance on buying local, the team at the Sports Shed stated, “We feel very strongly about buying locally and do buy all we can in town and hope all businessmen do the same.”
Learn more about Sports Shed, Etc. by visiting their website, www.SportsShedEtc.com or give them a call at (308) 728-5252. You can also stop by their store at 317 South 14th Street to explore their wide selection of inventory.
