Terra Running Company Nationally Recognized for Third Year in a Row
Once again, Terra Running Company has been nationally recognized as “A Best Running Store.” This is Terra Running Co.’s fourth time winning the award and the third year in a row they have received the recognition (2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024).
Conferred by The Running Event since 2008, this national award recognizes leaders in the run specialty industry. A months-long process, The Running Event evaluates businesses’ in-store experience, as well as their out-of-store presence in the community, including charitable involvement and events and programs promoting the sport of running. To be considered for a Best Running Store award, retailers must also be nominated by customers and their community before being examined on location. In 2024, The Running Event team sorted through over 15,000 nominations representing nearly 270 unique stores around the US before conferring the “Best Running Store” designation on the approximately 60 winning retailers.
As explained by Christina Henderson, the Director of The Running Event, “These stores are managed by teams of people who care deeply about each other and their customers. This care and dedication creates ripple effects throughout communities across the country, not to mention all corners of the running industry.”
Owner Brittany Katz credited the Terra Running team and the support of the Cleveland community as being vital to winning the coveted designation. “The Terra Running staff and I have kept our standards high for customer service, helpful and creative community events, all while providing the best experience for our customers; I believe this is why we brought the ‘Best Running Store’ award to Cleveland again this year. I am so thankful that Cleveland has continued to support our small business. We are excited for the future!”
All Best Running Store winners will be honored in person at The Running Event in Austin, Texas, on November 21, 2024.
To view the full list of winners and to learn more, visit: https://www.therunningevent.com/best-running-stores-2024/
Terra Running Company Wins National Award for 2022
On Friday, July 29th Terra Running Company, along with 60 other stores across the country, was named a "Best Running Store for 2022.” This annual award has been conferred by The Running Event since 2008 and recognizes the leaders in the run specialty industry. As explained by The Running Event, “Best Running Stores celebrates the stores leading by example in the run specialty industry—the retailers who continually show their commitment to their customers and community. Leaders among their peers, these stores are always striving to create a stronger industry.”
Beyond the in-store experience, retailers must show expertise and professionalism, as well as offer events and programs around the sport of running. Charitable community involvement is also evaluated. To be considered for a Best Running Store award, retailers are nominated by customers and the community before being examined on location.
“We are really honored to be among the top stores in the country,” said owner, Brittany Katz, “I am really proud of the customer service and attention to detail my team provides, and I am thankful to the Cleveland running community for the continued support.”
One of only two stores in the state of Tennessee to receive the award, this marks Terra Running Company’s second Best Running Store win, with the first being in 2019. Winners will be honored in person at The Running Event in Austin, Texas on December 1st, 2022.
To view the full list of winners and to learn more, visit: https://www.therunningevent.com/brs-2022-awards/
Small Business Person of the Year?? Terra Girls Episode 7
In this special edition of Terra Girls, join the Terra and Cleveland Coffee & Market crew as they head to the Mel Bedwell Small Business Person of the Year award luncheon... SPOILER ALERT, Brittany wins!
Brittany Selected as 2021 Community First Honoree
Every year Cleveland State Community College presents the Community First Awards to honor individuals from the region for the ways that they have supported and served the local community. This year, our very own Brittany Katz was selected as an Honoree in Philanthropy!
If you have been around Cleveland for a while, Terra owner Brittany Katz is no stranger to you. A board member of MainStreet Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce, and currently the “Sargent in Arms” for Cleveland’s Rotary Club, Brittany has been an active member of the Cleveland community since she moved here in 2016. Though she has been creatively using Terra and her other venture Cleveland Coffee & Market, to support the community from the very beginning, after the difficulties of this past year, she wanted to give back in a more direct way. Out of this desire, Brittany, along with friend and owner of Carroll Printing Andrea Boddeker, started what they call “The Small Biz Give.” Each month a portion of proceeds and physical goods from their businesses — Terra Running Company, Cleveland Coffee & Market, and Carroll Printing — are donated to a local non-profit. Already this year, thousands of dollars have been donated locally through The Small Biz Give.
“2020 was the most uncertain year we have ever had. Small businesses rely heavily on the local community and we wanted to support the people who have supported us. The Small Biz Give is another way to include customers in supporting their community as well as helping them understand the difference between us and a big box store… when you buy local you support friends and neighbors, you provide local jobs.”
Beyond The Small Biz Give, Brittany and her crew at Terra Running and Cleveland Coffee & Market have been finding ways to rally around the community since the beginning of 2020’s troubles.
“We started by fundraising with the I Believe in Cleveland shirts to benefit those affected by the tornado last April. We also collected donations from customers to help bring hundreds of coffees to healthcare workers at Tennova. We help local artisans sell their goods [through Cleveland Coffee & Market] and, of course, we always use as many local businesses as possible for all of our own business needs; if we are going to spend money we are going to spend it here.”
Though the Community First Awards happen every year, for 2021, the selection committee focused specifically on individuals who put the community first despite the pandemic and all of its challenges. With this in mind, Brittany was selected by the committee as an Honoree in Philanthropy for how she has served the community with generosity and grit even in the face of her own businesses' challenges. In the words of the committee, “Everything she does puts the community first.”
Congratulations Brittany and a big THANK YOU for all the ways that you serve our community!