Two paths, one goal—more sales with less risk. From turnkey “Powered By Pickleball Central” shops (no upfront cost) to classic wholesale, the industry’s most recognized retailer helps clubs design, stock, market, and run top-performing pro shops that elevate member experience and non-dues revenue.
Walk into a thriving pickleball club and you’ll notice it immediately: a curated wall of the latest and greatest paddle, apparel that actually moves, accessories players ask for by name, and a front-of-house team that knows how to fit, demo, and sell. That kind of retail doesn’t happen by accident. Increasingly, clubs are getting there with Pickleball Central, the industry’s leading retailer—and a partner offering two proven models for building a pro shop that sells from day one.
Two Pro Shop Models—Choose Your Lane
Wholesale. For operators who want to run retail in-house, Pickleball Central supplies the breadth and depth—top brands, fast replenishment, and practical merchandising guidance—so teams keep control while tapping into a best-seller catalog.
Powered By Pickleball Central (Turnkey). This one-of-a-kind model outfits a complete, high-end shop at no cost to the club. Pickleball Central stocks the latest paddles, apparel, footwear, balls, bags, and accessories, then shares revenue monthly. The company handles design, installation, planograms, replenishment, marketing support, and ongoing retail training—so you can focus on programming and member experience while the shop performs like a seasoned retailer.
John Cowley, Director of Vendor Relations: “You can’t lose with the program. You get the best pro shop in the business with no cost to you. Then you can focus on the rest of your operation to maximize your success.”
Built Like a Flagship: Design That Sells
From concept to floor set, Senior Director of Stores Nicole Smith and her team lead a collaborative process grounded in the realities of your space and audience. Digital mapping and live-scale renderings ensure every square foot works hard and traffic flows cleanly. Inventory plans are tailored to square footage and customer demographics, balancing price points and quantities for your market.
Shops are stocked with brands players want—JOOLA, Selkirk, Paddletek, Engage, CRBN, Gearbox, and more—plus balls, grips, footwear, bags, and a robust demo paddle program to encourage try-before-you-buy and accelerate conversions.
Smith: “We fully engage—from design to implementation—then stay with you through training and ongoing support to maximize your team’s knowledge and your shop’s performance.”
Fixtures Without the Cash Crunch
Professional fixtures elevate perception and average order value—but they’re expensive. In the Powered By model, clubs are responsible for slat walls, display racks, and furnishings; crucially, Pickleball Central can cover those costs up front, recouping them through incremental deductions from pro shop revenue. Translation: no upfront cash for a polished, top of the line retail operation. Outfitting even a modest shop solo can run into the thousands, and a fully stocked, top-tier footprint climbs far higher; Powered By removes that barrier and speeds time to revenue.
White-Glove Launch—and Ongoing Training
When it’s time to open, Nicole’s team flies to your club to set the store, merchandise the floor, establish planograms, and train staff on product knowledge and consultative selling. Day one looks and operates like a seasoned retail operation. Post-launch, the support continues with regular consultations and a training newsletter covering new equipment, category trends, and selling best practices. Smith is candid about why many club shops underperform: “Too many facilities hang a few paddles and hope.” Powered By replaces hope with data-driven assortment planning, disciplined merchandising, and continuous coaching.
Always in Stock, Always Relevant
Empty pegs and stale SKUs kill momentum. Pickleball Central’s operations team monitors sell-through and replenishes quickly, so your walls stay full and fresh. Seasonal transitions, new model introductions, and localized adjustments keep the assortment aligned to what your players want now—preventing lost sales and disappointing experiences.
Marketing That Drives Foot Traffic—and Membership
The pro shop is often the front door to your club. Pickleball Central pairs operations with market-making support: geotargeted email campaigns to local players and members, SEO and Google Business Profile optimization to capture search intent, and a prominent listing on PickleballCentral.com that positions your club as a prime retail destination for members and the public.
“Our marketing is a great way to drive traffic to your club regardless of whether players are members or not,” Smith notes. “When you have a top shop, we find many players discover a club and then become members.”
Proven at Scale
Dill Dinkers, one of the country’s leading club franchisors, partners with Pickleball Central and operates Powered By Pickleball Central shops across all of its facilities nationwide. Beyond franchise networks, dozens of independent clubs have made the switch—many moving from self-funded, self-managed shops to gain performance, selection, and sustained support.
Why Operators Choose Powered By
- No upfront cash for inventory; fixtures can be financed via revenue share
- Professional design & merchandising tuned to footprint and audience
- Elite brands with access to the newest models and drops
- On-site setup, staff training, and ongoing coaching
- Fast replenishment and inventory oversight
- Built-in marketing that grows retail traffic—and often, membership
- Monthly revenue share that turns retail into predictable income
Smith’s mantra: “Are you going to watch it happen, wait for it to happen, ask what happened, or make it happen? With Powered By, Pickleball Central makes it happen.”
Bottom line: Whether you’re upgrading a corner shop or planning a flagship footprint, Pickleball Central reduces risk, elevates member experience, and builds a retail engine that supports the entire club. For many operators, the choice is simple: partner on what sells, focus on what grows.
