Fleet Feet is an American franchisor of locally owned and operated running stores founded in 1976 in Sacramento, California. The company provides a wide range of running shoes, apparel, and accessories for both men and women. Fleet Feet is known for its knowledgeable and experienced staff, who offer personalized fittings and expert advice to help customers find the right shoes. The company is headquartered in Carrboro, North Carolina. In addition to its retail locations, Fleet Feet offers training programs, events, and other resources for runners and fitness enthusiasts. The company firmly commits to community involvement and regularly participates in local events and charity initiatives. Fleet Feet operates over 275 stores in the United States and has an online presence. History The company was founded in 1976 by Sally Edwards and Elizabeth Jansen, both collegiate athletes, educators, and under 30. Their first store was located on the second floor of a fixer-upper Victorian house in Sacramento, California. With a focus on community outreach, Edwards and Jansen worked tirelessly to support runners and student-athletes in the Sacramento area. They drove a refurbished United States Postal Service van to area high schools to fit student-athletes and also supported the grassroots events of the area's first running club, the Buffalo Chips. Although sales were slow at first, other brands eventually became vendors, and in 1978, Fleet Feet's second location opened in the town of Chico, 90 miles north of Sacramento. Rather than becoming a multi-store business, Edwards and Jansen decided to build Fleet Feet as a franchise operation with local ownership. Since its inception, Fleet Feet has been dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and educating runners of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Purchase by Tom Raynor Fleet Feet underwent a significant change in ownership in 1993 when Tom Raynor purchased the Fleet Feet franchise and two locations from founder Edwards. Raynor began his career in sporting goods as a sales associate with The Athlete’s House in Nashville, Tennessee. He was soon hired by a local sales agency representing multiple vendors, including Nike. His regular reports to Nike, which reflected the changing market and opportunities for the expansion of running, played a significant role in creating a national "tech rep" program called EKIN. The program was the first among footwear manufacturers and attracted young, enthusiastic, and passionate runners, many of whom remain active in the sporting goods industry. After leaving Nike in 1983, Raynor joined Brooks