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Store bears ’crosse of fledging sport |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 02 August 2006 |
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 After coaching girls lacrosse for a number of years, Chantal Gemperline was tired of seeing girls come in with the wrong equipment.
“As a coach, it was very frustrating to tell a parent of a new player, ‘M’am, your daughter cannot use that stick in girls lacrosse, it is a boy’s lacrosse stick! Yes, there is a difference. I know you can’t return it now because your daughter was so excited to get started that she already ripped all the tags off and started using it the day she bought it,’” she said.
On top of that, many lacrosse players were forced to drive to Denver for equipment, or order it off the Internet. It was evident to Gemperline that Fort Collins was sorely in need for a specialty lacrosse store.
 And so, Colorado Lacrosse and Co. was born in October 2005.
“Lacrosse is just fun,” Gemperline said. “I have a job that I like going to, just think of what you like most in life and then to be able to do it all day. I don’t mind being stuck here 10 hours some days. I do enjoy it.”
 Gemperline and her husband Chris Gemperline met while students at Colorado State University because of lacrosse. Both were avid players and shared the desire to make the sport grow in northern Colorado.
Chantal grew up on Long Island, New York, where the sport is popular. In high school, she helped start both a boys and girls varsity team. The couple has started up several leagues in Fort Collins, which continue to grow each season.
“I’ve never met anyone who plays lacrosse who isn’t a great person,” Gemperline said. “It’s automatically a huge family.”
Although soccer has been one of the more popular youth activities here, Gemperline said lacrosse is growing fast.
Colorado Lacrosse and Co. features custom stringing, an in-store shooting cage and a rental program for youth equipment.
VITAL STATS
Name: Chantal, 27, and Chris Gemperline, 29
Company: Colorado Lacrosse and Company Inc., 4112 S. College Ave. #114
Title: Co-owners
How long have you worked there? Celebrating one year on Halloween!
IN HER WORDS
What is it about this job that makes it challenging? Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Well, it is retail, and I do not think any type of retail business is easy. I work really long hours, usually 10 hour days, six days a week. What makes me love every minute of it is the satisfaction I see in my customers. Once you are involved in the sport, you become part of a very large family... some consider it a culture, our customers understand what I mean and for the new players and parents, while at the “CLC” they can experience that culture.
Things that impress you?
Ambition, success and strength (mentally and physically).
Things that don’t.
Cheaters.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
No. I have been involved in lacrosse as a player and a coach for over 14 years, but never imagined I would ever open a lacrosse retail store. Although I have always wanted to own my own business, I thought about a snowboard shop or a gym at one point.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
Assuming I still needed to have a career and did not win the lottery... I would strive to reach new levels in my Real Estate career. I am currently going into my fourth year as a licensed Colorado Realtor.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
In our store we have a shooting cage where you can shoot lacrosse balls at a target and it will clock how fast your shot is. I was in there messing around one day and the ball came out of my stick while doing a trick and hit me, giving me a bloody nose and funny black eye.
Smartest?
The smartest thing I have ever done is open the store. I am fulfilling a huge need in northern Colorado.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
Actually when I was 5 or 6, my neighbors paid me $1 to dig up grubs in their yard so that I could feed my turtle (Timmy the Turtle) who later was stolen from his cage in my backyard.
Where do you play?
Horsetooth Reservoir, any golf course, any lacrosse field.
Go out to eat?
Road 34 Deli and Tavern, Pulcinella Pizza, Crab Shack, Breakfast Club, Outback, Gibs NY Bagels and Starbucks.
Favorite spot?
My back porch with a cold beverage, my husband and my dogs, Road 34 Deli/Tavern, The Rio and New Belgium Brewery.
Movies.
“Harry Potter” (all), “Lord of the Rings” (all), “Dune” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” (both).
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Coaching! That is where I noticed the need for a store like “CLC”. As a coach, especially a girls lacrosse coach, I was tired of players showing up to the first day of season with the wrong equipment bought online or at a sports shop where no body knew what lacrosse was about. There is a difference between boys and girls equipment... a major difference!
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
Doing something I actually love and enjoy! My life pretty much revolves around my business, which is something I have a deep passion for.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
Yes. Yes.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Play lacrosse, go boating, golf, hike and spend time with my husband and my two dogs.
Pets? Family?
Chris, my husband and co-owner of the “CLC”, and I have 2 Golden Retrievers, Bennelli and Shelby. Chris and I just celebrated our first wedding anniversary Memorial Day weekend. He is from Denver where his parents, two sisters, two brothers, and a future sister-in-law reside today. I have a sister who works in one of the tallest buildings in Manhattan, and my parents live on Long Island in New York where I moved to Colorado from.
Favorite TV shows.
Reality TV, “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy”.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
How do young/new employees get ahead?
Wanting to be involved in the business, sharing ideas, being honest and loyal is huge.
Any interesting anecdotes?
One time a young customer came into the store with money he had been saving to put towards a new XBox and used it to buy a lacrosse stick…. in all change!
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
Open other “CLC” branches. Want to own a franchise? Call me.
What do you do during your breaks?
Breaks? Does lunch count? I sneak out to play lacrosse or coach. Sometimes I talk with my sister online while she is working at the top of 55 Water St., in Manhattan… sshhhhh don’t tell her boss!
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Help the sport grow. I’ve coached youth/high school and managed teams for years for free. | |
CLC
Written by lorraine on 2006-08-02 05:02:57
Great Article, You Captured the "Spirit" of the New Lacrosse Store ! |
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