EP 517 | From a Car Trunk to an Empire | The Untold Jay’s Sporting Goods Story

The Fall Podcast

Sports, Wilderness, Education

4.9 • 559 Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2026

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Most people know Jay's Sporting Goods as the giant Michigan sporting goods store… but very few know how it actually started. In today’s episode, I sit down with Arlene Yost, Jeff Poet and JJ Poet to hear the real story behind the empire. What started in the trunk of Jay Poet’s car in the 1960s eventually turned into the largest privately owned sporting goods store in the country. Before the massive stores, packed aisles, and loyal customers… there was a one-car garage, a dream, and a family willing to bet everything on it. This episode dives into the history, sacrifices, risks, and moments that built Jay’s into what it is today. Some of the stories in this one honestly sound too crazy to be real. If you love hunting, the outdoors, business, or just hearing how something legendary was built from absolutely nothing, you’re going to want to hear this one all the way through. This was a special episode for me to record, and I’m incredibly thankful the Poet family sat down to share it. Enjoy. . . . Promo Codes: Latitude Outdoors: thefall Americas Best Bowstrings: TFP Helix Broadheads:TFP Faceoff Ebikes: TFP Asio Gear: FALL20 Kuhle Archery: FALL25 . . . Partner Websites: Jays Sporting Goods - https://www.jayssportinggoods.com/ Helix Broadheads - https://www.helixbroadheads.com/ Latitude Outdoors - https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ Garmin Bow Sights - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/outdoor-recreation/sportsman-and-tactical-devices/ Prime Archery - https://www.g5prime.com/ Asio Gear - https://asiogear.com?utm_source=pro&utm_medium=fall Faceoff Hunting Ebikes - https://www.faceoffebikes.com/ Michigan Buckpole - https://mibuckpole.com/ Vitalize Seed Company - https://vitalizeseed.com/ Kuhle Archery - https://kuhlearchery.com/ Everland Outdoors - https://everlandoutdoors.com/ Moonguide - https://moonguide.com/ Moultrie - https://www.moultrie.com/ Don’t forget to check out the Fall Podcast Youtube channel for new content. Subscribe to the channel as well. Thank you. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWSCcGJeHHxejFXBZAO83QA For updates from The Fall Podcast: The Fall Podcast on Instagram - The Fall Podcast The Fall Podcast on Facebook - The Fall Podcast Facebook The Fall Podcast Youtube Channel - The Fall Podcast Youtube Channel Subscribe and Rate us on Itunes: SUBSCRIBE to The Fall Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Planning a fishing trip shouldn't feel like a full-time job.
0:03.1	With phishingbooker.com, you can find and book the perfect fishing trip within minutes.
0:08.5	Fishingbooker.com connects you with trusted fishing captains around the world.
0:12.6	Booking is fast, easy, and secure, with access to verified customer reviews, loyalty rewards, and around the clock customer support.
0:21.6	Everything you need to book with confidence is in one place.
0:24.6	So head to FishingBooker.com and start planning your next fishing adventure today.
0:29.6	What do you hope people feel when they walk through the doors of Jay's sporting goods today?
0:34.6	You know, I hope that they feel like Jay's cares.
0:38.9	One of the things that Jay always pounded into the kids and the new employees, especially
0:44.9	in the gun department, he said, if there's a guy goes out of here with just the gun,
0:50.1	you've not done your job.
0:51.6	You have not.
0:52.3	You have done him a disservice.
0:59.6	Okay. You've not done your job. You have not. You have done him a disservice. Shooter, big deer.
1:01.1	The fall is what drives Whitetail hunters.
1:03.3	It's year-round preparation for 15 seconds of chaos you just can't explain unless you've experienced it.
1:13.6	My heart is going a mile a minute right now. The fall means something different to everyone.
1:15.6	But for me, it's leaf changing, cooler temps, the sound of a Coleman lantern,
1:20.6	and those phone calls to friends and family after you release the perfect arrow.
1:24.6	Daddy just shot the big one.
1:26.6	The deer that you just said was a baby.
1:29.1	Just shot.
	...

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