As our long time customers know, Sports Exchange has a long history of constantly growing and evolving to meet the needs of our customers.  We opened in 1992 in a small store in the Howell Center on Route 9 South strictly selling all types of pre-owned sporting goods, as most of our customers know our original name was “Consignment Sports.” Through the years we kept taking more space in the shopping center to meet the growing demand from our customers for fitness, hockey, lacrosse and baseball equipment, apparel, soccer products, etc. 

            For several years we were literally bursting at the seams until the perfect opportunity arose when we were able to purchase the building right across the street.  We renovated the building and moved in to our new location on the northbound side of Route 9 in November of 2006.  Our new location boasts 6,000 square feet of showroom space with 4,000 square feet of warehouse and office space.  It has allowed us to greatly expand our offering of hockey, lacrosse and baseball equipment, tons more room for apparel, greater space for inventory in the warehouse, and even a new mixed martial arts section.  We were able to make room for a special counter devoted to skate repairs, wheel changes, and lacrosse stringing.  We even found space for not one but TWO state of the art skate sharpening machines!

            When we made the move we also changed the name from “Consignment Sports” to “Sports Exchange.”  Many of our long time customers were perplexed by the name change and have asked “why?”  The answer is very simple.  Our regular customers know who we are and what we carry.  They know that about 90% of our showroom is devoted to new products, and about 10% is used merchandise.  For a long time we noticed that people that have never been to our store and came in for the first time were constantly expressing surprise at the fact that our store is mostly new merchandise.  We felt the name change was important to alleviate the confusion caused with an incorrect preconceived notion that our store strictly sold used merchandise on a consignment basis.
But don’t worry!  We haven’t lost sight of the importance of accepting trade-ins and selling used merchandise! 

            Sports Exchange can best be described as a “hybrid” sporting goods store.  With 10,000 square feet, we’re a far cry from the old fashioned small “mom and pop” local store, we’re closer in size to a big box store, but please don’t call us one.  We DON’T want anyone to think we’re just like a Sports Authority or a Dick’s store.  Our prices are comparable to the big box stores, but when you visit us you will be helped by a knowledgeable salesperson that plays the game.  We’re like a big box pro shop!  All of our employees are long terms sports enthusiasts, they have all played sports such as baseball, hockey and lacrosse in high school and/or college, coached youth teams, worked as referees, and most are currently playing in local leagues.  We even have a store hockey team that plays at Winding River in Toms River every week!