Playback Sports opened its doors in the winter of 2010 as the only sports consignment store in the South Puget Sound region.
Playback Sports sells high quality used sports gear and apparel in a neighborhood store where we strive to offer really great customer service. We want to provide connections between unused gear and those who will use it.
Playback Sports is launching a Community Sourced Capital campaign to raise $3,000 from their community to design and manufacture the Tacoma Skyline Sock. It’s a popular sock item carried in the store, but has only been offered for city skylines like Seattle. It’s time to get some Tacoma spirit!
Let’s face it, we all have that gear in our basements or garages and we’re afraid to give it away because so much time, money and memories are invested in it. That’s where we can help. We’ll match that well-loved, gear with new playmates and get it out of the garage and back on the playing field (or snow or pavement) where it belongs.
Did you know that 80% of the environmental impact of new sporting goods and apparel take place before it even hits the store shelf? By choosing to buy used gear you are helping to reduce the footprint made by manufacturing. In addition, we never want the cost of gear to be a barrier to sport. We want everyone to have a chance to play their best and enjoy new sports and activities.
Playback Sports was born from a basement full of gear that needed to get back outside. Two years ago, I left an 8 year career at REI to release the fleece that tends to build up over time. I had seen families and sports enthusiasts investing their time and money over the years in gear that I was certain had become imprisoned in dusty basements and cold garages. I wanted to bring it all together in one place where experts could match the used gear with new users. I’m passionate about gear never becoming a barrier to sport and meet that challenge everyday. There is no greater joy for me than to see a child running with a smile, throwing a ball or achieving a goal. I love the idea that sport is not about the gear but about the mind, body, earth connection that we get from the engagement with sport.
My own children have taught me volumes about the value of high quality gear as well as about high fashion gear…everyone loves to feel like they are part of the team because they fit in. Grass stains and mud, fresh air, lint from a tennis ball, splashing water and sunshine, elements that should be part of everyone’s world.
-Karlan Jessen, Owner of Playback Sports
