Bandwagon, a Homewood-based sports boutique, has been proclaimed as one of Alabama’s “Emerging Retailers of the Year 2024”, as announced by the Alabama Retail Association. The prestigious recognition is awarded to Leah and David Knight, the owners of Bandwagon, marking their significant contribution to the local retail industry.
Established in 2021, Bandwagon serves as a one-stop-shop for custom community apparel and lifestyle clothing catering to toddlers right through to adults. The store operates across three key locations including, Homewood and Vestavia Hills in Alabama as well as Madison, Mississippi.
The Knights have poured great commitment and devotion into serving their community via Bandwagon, stating that living within the very community they serve offers them an opportunity to give back generously. Recognizing their efforts, their nominator, Shay Gartman, underscored that Bandwagon has quickly assumed a top spot among Birmingham’s favourite stores for sporting gear, equipment, and school spirit apparel. Gartman also highlighted their staff’s expertise about the different teams’ needs, which has aided in their growth and popularity.
The Knights, through their retailer of the year entry, pledged their continued commitment to building community partnerships for the benefit of their locale and improving the success of their retail venture. This commitment was evident when Bandwagon reported a revenue increase of 25% from 2022 to 2023, with the Knights constantly exploring new avenues to improve. One such avenue has been the implementation of pop-up shops and a merchandise truck aimed at boosting its business performance.
In 2024, Bandwagon shifted its store in Homewood from the downtown area to the Edgewood neighbourhood’s business district. This move, according to the Knights, has increased its brand recognition, thanks to the high influx of diners in the Edgewood area.
Impressively, Bandwagon’s projected growth has not gone unnoticed, especially its “local first” stance. Their focus on the importance of communities’ roles has made it evident that local retailers, when given the right focus, can topple national chains, as one judge noted.
The judge recognised Bandwagon’s commitment to meeting the local consumer of all ages at their convenience through pop-up shops at schools and community events. It also commended its generosity of giving back more than $50,000 in donations to the same schools through sponsorships and fundraising drives.
Bandwagon’s growth is testament to the effectiveness of their active social media accounts and creative website that demonstrate their keen understanding of their local community. Their strategy of setting up team-specific shops is indeed an innovative approach towards capturing customer attention.
On record supporting Bandwagon’s success, Brad Tew, Division Manager of Brasfield & Gorrie, comments on how the retail store has captured the attention of local communities by fostering relationships and promoting the concept of shopping locally. Bandwagon’s growth is proof that small businesses form the backbone of our economy.
Furthering their commitment to the retail industry is Bandwagon’s membership with various chambers of commerce such as Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, and Cahaba Heights Merchants Association. They also demonstrated their commitment through career days hosted at local schools, further cementing their vital role within Alabama’s retail industry.
Kindly note that this is an annual award named after the late Morris Mickey Gee, a UAB professor and former Alabama Retail board member. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by businesses in the first five years while also realising their potential for significant impact. With this award, Bandwagon joins the prestigious ranks of other businesses recognised as Retailers of the Year by the Alabama Retail Association. Adding to that, Rick Brown, the President of the Alabama Retail Association, commended Leah and David Knight for their work, calling them Retailers of the Year to their customers and employees.
