It's a special edition of the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast as we celebrate their 50th anniversary.   This is the story of Jay Poet.  A man who loved the outdoors and turned that passion into a thriving business. Jay's wife Arlene, and sons Jeff and JJ talk about the challenges, and rewards, of their journey.  They describe how Jay started by selling guns and gear from the trunk of his car, the move to their garage, the famous "blue building"...and eventually a new building north of Clare. It's a fascinating look behind the scenes at Michigan's "Original Outdoor Superstore".          

Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast

September 2021

Saddle hunting is one of the hottest topics in the outdoors today...and it's the subject this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods podcast as we talk with Alex Chopp of Latitude Outdoors. Alex explains the basic of saddle hunting and how to get started. He talks about the advantages including mobility, increased visibility and safety. Chopp also describes an event at Jay's designed to give potential saddle hunters the chance to try a system before buying.    

August 2021

It's time to get ready for bow season, and that's exactly what we're doing this time on the Jay's Sporting Goods podcast. Sam Austin is an expert bowhunter who works in Jay's archery department in Clare. He has great advice on choosing a new compound or crossbow, setting that bow up and getting dialed in for the season. Sam also has tips for bowhunters looking to save a few dollars, while still getting top quality gear. Finally, Austin stresses the importance of not waiting till the last minute to visit the store.  He says traffic has already picked up and it's going to get even busier as the season gets closer.

July 2021

We're talking with a Michigan whitetail hunting icon this time on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast. John Eberhart, the man who pioneered saddle hunting and hunting pressured whitetail tactics, talks about his relationship with Jay's, including a story about being hired by Jay Poet. John describes the evolution of saddle hunting and why he believes many so called "experts" have it wrong. He also talks about post season scouting and the importance of prepping a set up. Eberhart also has details on an upcoming event at Jay's to educate interested hunters about his saddle hunting technique.

June 2021

Michigan's original family owned outdoor superstore is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year...and that's the topic this time on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast. We're talking with Marketing Director Matt Poet about the history of Jay's and what they have planned for the milestone event. Matt also describes how covid has affected the outdoor industry, what sets Jay's apart from the competition and why customer service is always a top priority. Poet also talks about the limited supply of some outdoor gear, but he says their inventory is growing every day. Finally, he looks ahead to the future and the possible addition of more stores in the future.

May 2021

We're talkin turkey this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast with Jeff Poet. Jeff talks about what it takes to be a successful turkey hunter, and how he took the "World Slam" of birds. Jeff also reminisces about the early days of Jay's and why he's proud to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

April 2021

We're talkin turkey this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods podcast with Kenny Slavens, manager of the hunting department at Jay's in Gaylord. Kenny is an avid turkey hunter, with many years of experience in chasing longbeards. He has great advice on choosing the right calls, decoys, blinds and shotguns. Slavens also discusses the importance of patterning your gun and explains why bowhunting for birds is especially challenging.

March 2021

We're talking with long time Jay's employee and avid big game hunter Bill Hahn. The hunting department buyer recently returned from an adventure in Texas where he was able to take a beautiful aoudad. Bill talks about that hunt, as well as the challenge of getting gear and equipment into their stores during the pandemic. Hahn also discusses the process of choosing the right product for Jay's customers and he previews some exciting new gear on the market.  

February 2021

Getting families outdoors in the wintertime...that's the topic this time on the Jay's Sporting Goods podcast. Jay's Project Manager Tina Colosky says it's hard to have in-person activities because of Covid, but they've come up with an innovative idea using technology. Tina, along with MSU 4H Program Coordinator Alex Schunk, are using the GooseChase App to encourage families to get outdoors and complete a series of "missions" including ice fishing, skiing, snowshoeing or even making a snowman. The Winter Outdoor Family Adventure is scheduled for February 19-21 and you can sign up here. It's a great way to capitalize on the renewed interest in outdoor activities during the pandemic, maintain social distancing....and have great wintertime fun in the outdoors!      

January 2021

We're talking with Tim Roller of Whitetail Journey this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast. Tim has worked with Jay's for many years in his roles as a fishing guide, video producer and hard core whitetail hunter. Tim and host Mike Avery talk about a variety of topics, including the finer points of late season hunting, the importance of food sources for the late season and choosing the right gear for cold weather hunting. Then the conversation turns to post season scouting and the best way to use trail cameras. Finally, Tim describes what he means by the statement "Deer do deer things". It's an interesting conversation with a very interesting guy, this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast.

December 2020

We're talking about getting kids involved in the outdoors this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast. Jason Koch and Dave Gould are teachers at the Clare Middle School who love the outdoors...and they want to pass that passion along to their students. They've come up with a "4th Grade Deer Camp" to expose kids to hunting and the concept of wildlife stewardship. The teachers describe their program and how it's been expanded to other districts across Michigan. They also talk about their partnerships with the Michigan DNR, and especially the folks at Jay's.

November 2020

Long time Jay's employee Jeania Canel is the guest this month.  She's the manager of the Gun Department at the Clare store, as well as an avid hunter and gun enthusiast. Jeania discusses the challenges of doing business in the world of covid.  That includes limited supplies of guns and ammo, restrictions on the number of customers and the safety of those customers and staff members. She says manufacturers had to shut down for several weeks and that's limited the supply of all types of guns, including handguns, rifles and shotguns. The only exception seems to be muzzleloaders, but those sales are soft because in Michigan, many hunters can now use rifles in the muzzleloading season. Jeania says that even in these challenging times, the staff and management at Jay's continues to be dedicated to providing the best experience possible for their customers.  

October 2020

The experts at Jay's Sporting Goods are getting ready for bow season, but this year, things are different. Archery Department Manager and lifelong archer Paul Penix says he's never seen the interest as high as it is this fall. Paul's passion for the sport is evident as he discusses the possible reasons for the renewed interest in bowhunting. He also says for the first time in memory, Jay's is actually running low on some inventory...and he explains why all archery shops are seeing the same problem. Penix describes the new system Jay's has put in place to deal with the rush of customers and why his people are committed to providing the best customer service possible in these challenging times. Paul also says there are some great bows still on the racks at Jay's, and why customers might want to consider some of the lesser known brands.  

September 2020

We're talking with a long time partner of Jay's Sporting Goods....Kris Duerson of Rapid River Knifeworks. Kris started the company back in 2002 and Jay's was his first customer.  Since then, Rapid River has become known as a maker of top quality custom knives. Duerson talks about what goes into a good knife, the different styles available and how to maintain a knife. He also describes the proper sharpening technique, the importance of choosing the right size and why his knives are guaranteed for life.

August 2020

This month on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast, we're talking with Marketing Director Matt Poet. Matt is an avid outdoorsman and devoted family man...and he's a third generation Jay's employee.  In fact, it was Matt's grandpa Jay, who started the company. Matt talks about growing up in the outdoor retail business and the state of the industry today...including the challenges of operating in a pandemic. He also talks about the connection Jay's customers have to the outdoor lifestyle and why Jay's staff members are perfectly suited to help their customers get the most from those outdoor passions. It's an interesting look behind the scenes this month on the Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast.    

July 2020

The podcast to help you get the most from your next outdoor adventure...brought to you by Jay's Sporting Goods, Michigan's original family owned outdoor superstore.

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Jay's Sporting Goods Podcast

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