The owners of Homewood-based Bandwagon have been recognized for their creativity and efforts to promote shopping local with Alabama’s 2024 Gee Emerging Retailers of the Year award.
David and Leah Knight’s team-focused sports boutique had a 25% increase in revenue from 2022 to 2023, according to a statement from the Alabama Retail Association.
“Bandwagon has quickly become one of the Birmingham area’s premier spots for sporting gear, equipment and school spirit apparel,” Shay Gartman, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, said in her nomination for the store. “Their staff is renowned for being highly knowledgeable about what is needed for the different teams in the area.”
The Knights, who are Homewood residents, opened their store in 2021 and now have three locations, in Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Madison, Mississippi.
In their entry for the award, they wrote, “We are constantly working to increase our community partnerships to benefit our community, while also improving our success.” They said they look for ways to promote their business, such as implementing pop-up shops and a merchandising truck.
One of the former Retailers of the Year who judged the emerging category said, “Bandwagon is the reason why local retailers, if they recognize and focus on the importance of community, will always triumph over national chains.”
