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He's had a good run with The Running Company by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 9 | Thursday, March 27, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com After nearly two decades of helping runners find the right fit, Greg McKinnon is hanging up his shoes and calling it a career. The 55-year-old owner of The Running Company is retiring and will be closing the downtown Oakville shop near the end of April. After selling more than 76,000 pairs of shoes in 17 years, McKinnon knew "it was time" to step down, he says. "Everybody knows when it is time. It's been a great run in Oakville. It's been much appreciated. I'm going to miss all the people in Oakville," said McKinnon, who founded the store in 1997 with his brother Steve. Selling shoes started off as a hobby, but they soon realized there was a need in Oakville for "a good, quality running store where you can get the right fit," McKinnon said. "There wasn't anybody at that time like us. We believe there still isn't anybody like us. Our product knowledge has always been superior (along with) our customer service," said McKinnon. The Running Company won the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence's (OABE) Retailer of the Year in 2002, which "validated what we were doing and what we were about," McKinnon said. Greg McKinnon, owner of The Running Company, is retiring after many years in downtown Oakville. The small businessman holds a pair of New Balance training shoes, one of many styles his store carries. Athletic shoes have seen many technological changes during the store owner's career. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Though he parted ways with his brother in running the business, McKinnon was motivated by his staff and customers to keep it operational. "Every time that doorbell went, you knew you had somebody coming through the door, but you never knew who it was. I've always looked at customers, not as challenges, but as friends, future runners or walkers," said McKinnon. Originally located on Thomas Street, McKinnon moved the business to 114 Lakeshore Rd. E. in 2011 after two fires left the building in ruins. "It's on the busiest corner in downtown Oakville and has access to great running routes, whether it's the lake or along Lakeshore Road to Appleby College," said McKinnon. "We didn't want to go far from our old location because people don't tend to find you." Relocation and solo ownership weren't the only changes for the company ­ the footwear McKinnon sells has evolved since he started. "Everybody is preoccupied with lightness now. It was all about correction, support and really heavy footwear when we first started. Technology has allowed the manufacturers to lighten the footwear. We would rather have the customers develop strength naturally, as opposed to over-support," said McKinnon. "Everybody is about colour too. In my day, it was grey or black. Now it's orange, green or yellow." The average age of his customers has also changed, McKinnon said, adding people in their 40s and 50s are now buying more shoes. He noted more women are getting active because of the convenience and "social aspect of running in a group or with a friend." see Small on p.10 Exotic Wood Furniture Teak Root Furniture NEW LINE STORE CLOSING SALE 2501 Hampshire Gate, Unit 7B, Oakville · 905-829-0556 Mon to Wed 10:30-6:30 · Thurs to Fri 10:30-8:00 · Sat 10:30-6:00 · Sun 12:00-5:00 w w w. w o o d s e n s e i n t e r i o r s . c o m