The relationship between Dixie and Bocock has been germinating since the early days of both companies. It eventually led to a November 1999 merger.

It was in the 1950s that the owners of these two family-operated businesses met each other while attending regional trade shows. They eventually became close friends. Years later when their sons took over the respective businesses, talk of partnership ensued.

Caravati also stressed that Dixie and Bocock have similar values. They are both quality conscious and realize the importance of having a highly trained sales staff.

"I have known Michael and Ken for years, and I'm really looking forward to working with them. This was an excellent opportunity for Bocock and, more importantly, it means our customers have access to additional sales staff and an expanded product line," said Pete Wilson of Bocock Sports.

Both companies also have a rich history, and with the creation of Dixie/Bocock, the company will have a combined127 years of experience selling sporting goods.

Bocock Sports was founded in 1921 by two college coaches, Branch Bocock and "Doc" Stroud, to supply sporting goods equipment to industrial teams in Piedmont, N.C. After a few years in the retail business, both Bocock and Stroud returned to coaching. They sold the business to their one employee, Henry S. Wilson. Through his leadership, and that of his son and grandsons, Bocock Sports continued to service all levels of athletes.

Dixie Sporting Goods also had two founding members. In 1952, two brothers, Hank and Charlie Caravati, bought a small sporting goods store in Richmond, VA. Enthusiastic sports fans, Hank and Charlie dove into the sporting goods business with great zeal. The business grew over the years as Dixie acquired more lines and additional means of distribution. Charlie's two sons, Ken and Michael, entered the business in 1983 and have built an organization to include over 30 experienced sales and customer service representatives offering more than 300 brands.

Although the Dixie/Bocock incarnation means the new company will have three retail outlets and eight team sales offices in Virginia and North Carolina, and an expanded inventory, Caravati stresses that Dixie/Bocock is not looking to become the biggest sporting goods operation in the world. "It's not how big you are, it's how good you are."

Do contact us if you do not see what you want in our Team Sports Online Catalog. While we are putting new product on our site, we can deliver thousands of other products not currently online. We can outfit your school, team, or organization head to toe with quality name brands. We are recognized as a one-stop shop for most schools and leagues and recreational programs. We supply many new schools with all their athletic equipment and uniforms. We also provide wall matting, scoreboards, bleachers, gym floor covers, tennis windscreens, foul ball netting and storage lockers.

We have the best in the industry. Have a question? You call our toll free number (1-877-480-2400) between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm eastern standard time or e-mail sales@goteamsports.com anytime and receive a prompt reply from one of our growing number of seasoned sales representatives. Each of our sales representatives goes through an extensive sales training. We can help guide you to the right product for you within your budget on time. We can set you up on one of our volume discounting programs. We accept purchase orders as well as Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

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