Runnings

You know what's kind of fascinating about Runnings? It all started back in 1947 when Norman "Red" Running opened that first store in downtown Marshall, Minnesota - and honestly, the name couldn't be more perfect for a guy who literally founded the company.

But here's where it gets interesting. Runnings started as an automotive supply store, but quickly expanded its product mix to sell farm and fleet equipment and supplies. The company would continue on a slow path of growth until 1988 when a group involving Dennis and Adele Reed purchased the company. That's when things really took off.

Under Reed's leadership, Runnings has grown from 8 stores in 2 states to 57 stores in 8 states - though some sources suggest they're now pushing toward 80+ locations. That's pretty impressive growth for what's essentially remained a family-owned operation.

What really sets Runnings apart is this whole "home, farm, and outdoor" concept. They work very hard to offer a fair price on quality, durable and trusted merchandise including clothing, footwear, automotive, sporting goods, farm supplies, lawn and garden, toys, housewares, tools, pet and animal supplies and more. It's like they took the idea of a general store and supercharged it for modern rural and suburban life.

And speaking of modern - they've been on an acquisition spree lately, picking up North Dakota-based Home of Economy in May 2024, gaining eight stores in the process. They also acquired R.P. Home & Harvest in April 2023. So they're clearly not just sitting still.

The company's got this interesting positioning where they're big enough to compete with the Tractor Supply Companies of the world, but small enough to maintain that hometown feel. The Runnings team is now over 2,700 strong and the company continues to call Marshall home to its corporate office and flagship store.

What's really cool is how they've managed to stay relevant across multiple generations of customers. Whether you're a farmer needing equipment, a suburban homeowner tackling weekend projects, or someone who just loves the outdoors, Runnings has carved out this niche where they can serve all those needs under one roof. That's not easy to pull off, but they seem to have figured it out.