History of Zides
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When Bob Zide established Zides Sport Shop in 1958, he wanted to mix his passion for sports with his understanding of athletic business. Bob 's experience coordinating YMCA sports leagues and establishing local youth baseball programs, as well as lessons learned during his semi-pro baseball career, gave him an appreciation of the role equipment and safety plays in sports.
During his lifetime, Bob set the standard for sports innovation. Zides was the first team dealer in the country in individually fit helmets and shoulder pads on football players. It was also one of the first companies to establish continual equipment training programs for sales people.
As for product innovations, Bob himself held nine U.S. patents on equipment including the Shockblocker® football faceguard attachment, now used extensively throughout the NFL, NCAA and high school.
Over the past 45 years, Zides has also maintained a commitment to growth. After opening a series of stores in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Zides began focusing on team sports. In 1994, the store opened an expansive 4,400 sq. ft. football reconditioning facility. Just two years later, Zides upgraded their lettering facility with a 12-head embroidery machine and design digitizer. In 1999, the lettering facility also received a one-head and a six-head embroidery machine, a new dryer and an autopress machine, making it the largest and most modern facility in Ohio and West Virginia.