What separates a small hunting store from the larger box stores?

Well according to H&S Hunting co-owner Mike Manuel, that’s an easy question to answer.

“That’s easy,” said Manuel. “We personally work on people’s stuff. Customer service, you just can’t beat it at a local shop. At the big box stores, if you buy it, you got it. You have to work on it yourself. Customer service is the most important, and you don’t always get that at the bigger stores.”

H&S Hunting, located in Downtown Elizabethton, has been in operation for the last 15 years. The business is co-owned by Manuel and Howard Craft.

For the last 22 years, Manuel and Craft, both natives of Carter County, have guided trips hunting trips in Illinois. It was while working these trips that the two got the idea to open up their own store here in Elizabethton.

“We were guiding hunts and thought that this would go along with it,” said Manuel. “We just got the bright idea to start it up one day.”

With the big population of hunters and fishers in the area, Manuel said that Elizabethton is a good place to run a hunting store. He did say, however, that due to the economy things could be better.

“With the economy, things are tougher in Elizabethton,” he said. “You don’t have the income in this area, but it is nice to have a business here. It is a good downtown section here, and it is nice to own a business where you can support the local area.

“We relate great to the community here,” added Manuel. “It is a real good area for hunters.”

H&S Hunting, despite its name, isn’t just for hunters, said Manuel.

“Not everybody that buys a gun is a hunter,” he said. “A lot of people just need a gun for personal protection. There is also a lot of people who just like to target practice with guns and bows. There are a lot of areas that we cover.”

The store offers a wide selection of guns and hunting bows and is the only Hoyt Archery dealer in the Tri-Cities. Manuel said that prices at a smaller store might seem higher than the typical box store, but that is because the quality of products is higher at places like H&S Hunting.

“It may seem that we are higher, but we are selling a superior product,” he said. “They have a lot of their stuff specked out to lower the price. The average person doesn’t know that.”

“We also sell products that the box stores just don’t sell,” Manuel added.

Not only does the store sell archery equipment, but they also repair bows which is something they take pride in.

“As far as archery, we are a great pro shop,” said Manuel. “Service on your bows, crossbows, whatever, we can take care of that. We take care of the maintenance part. And you can’t get that online. You can’t get that at Bass Pro.”

H&S Hunting is located at 430 East E Street in Elizabethton. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

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