How Stuart Sports Threads Together a Western NY Community

TL;DR:

• Holiday shoppers are expected to spend $109 billion at small businesses this season - strengthening the local shops at the heart of their communities.
• Stuart Sports, a Lewiston mainstay since 1983, continues to grow under new owner Joe Dougherty through craftsmanship, strong community relationships and online store innovation.
• With SBA acquisition financing and guidance from Northwest Bank, Joe stepped confidently into ownership and is expanding Stuart Sports while preserving its role as a trusted community business.

Holiday shopping is a powerful economic engine for small businesses and according to the Intuit QuickBooks 2025 Holiday Shopping Report, consumers are expected to spend $109 billion with independent retailers - a 44% increase over last season - representing 41% of all holiday spending.

Those dollars don’t just boost sales; they strengthen the local shops that shape the culture, pride and identity of their communities. In Western New York, few local shops embody that spirit as deeply as Stuart Sports, a Lewiston staple since 1983. For more than four decades, it has stitched, screened and personalized apparel for generations of students, families and teams.

Today, under the ownership of Joe Dougherty, Stuart Sports continues that legacy with a renewed sense of purpose and pride and with support from Northwest Bank as a trusted partner in the business's next chapter.

A Business Rooted in Community

Ask anyone in Lewiston, NY where to go for custom embroidery or screen printing and they point to Stuart Sports. Proudly situated on the same block for more than 40 years, the shop has become a landmark for the close-knit town.

"Everybody in Lewiston and Western New York knows Stuart Sports as a place to get embroidery, screen printing, custom jerseys and custom apparel," Joe shared. "I think Stuart Sports is very vital to Western New York."

Joe's relationship with the business began long before he became its owner. In high school and college, he worked there part-time and built deep connections with the shop's owners long-standing team - many of whom are still there today. "We have really long relationships dating back over 20 years," he said. "Everybody gets along… it was really a no-brainer when they wanted me to come back."

That sense of continuity of people, values and craftsmanship is one of the reasons Stuart Sports remains so central to the community's identity.

Coming Home and Stepping Into the Community

Joe didn't set out to be a business owner. He studied to become a teacher and eventually worked in the Washington, D.C. and Virginia areas for more than a decade. Then came a call that would change his trajectory.

Curt and Wendy Stuart, the previous owners, reached out and asked if he'd consider returning home to take over the shop as they moved toward retirement. The timing was right and the opportunity felt meaningful.

SBA Acquisition: Moving From Possibility to Ownership

"I knew how successful the business was," Joe said. "And the reputation the store has in this area. I wanted to be part of it and I had all the support in the world from them."

Like many first-time business owners, Joe needed guidance in navigating the financial and administrative work of an acquisition. He turned to his local Small Business Development Center, where advisors helped him craft a business plan and understand the early steps.

Then, one of the most critical partnerships came into play: Small Business Banker Gregory Jasinski, from Northwest Bank.  "We contacted Northwest for the financing… Greg was great," Joe recalled. "He and the team answered all my questions. I could text or call him at any point and he'd answer or call me back. Northwest was great because they helped me along the way."

For Joe, who didn't come from a business or finance background, the SBA-backed acquisition loan was transformative. "Without the help of Northwest and the Small Business Development Center, I wouldn't have been able to do it," he said. "They made it simple for me."

With financing secured, guidance in place and the former owners still cheering him on, Joe officially took over in April 2025, marking a new chapter in Stuart Sports' long history.

Continuing the Craft, Strengthening Tradition

One of the defining features of Stuart Sports is its commitment to craftsmanship with its embroidery, screen printing, twill work and custom varsity jackets that are instantly recognizable across the region. 

The storefront showcases what the shop can do: "Everything I sell in the store is stuff that we've decorated in the back," Joe explained. "We stand by all our work. Our embroidery, screen printing, twill — it's top of the line."

For many families, these items carry a lot of emotional weight: the first varsity jacket, the sweatshirt a grandparent buys to support a grandchild, the gear that marks a season or team. Joe sees those moments everywhere.

"My wife gets sick of me sometimes, I'll say, 'Oh, that's a Stuart Sports shirt.' I see shirts we made everywhere we go." In a town where nearly every business is independently owned, those threads, literally and figuratively, help weave a sense of community pride.

Relationships That Last Generations

Stuart Sports' longevity is built on relationships with youth sports leagues, high school coaches, parents and local organizations. Many partnerships date back decades and now carry forward under Joe's leadership.

"There's a reason they still come to us," Joe said. "If you call the store, I'm going to answer. If you walk in, I'm the first person you see." That hands-on attention shapes how the business operates: flexible timelines, honest conversations and a willingness to help when it matters. Just recently, a coach called in a panic because his team was heading to a state meet that day. "I said, 'I'm going to go get them done right now.' He came and picked them up, and he thanked me up and down." It's the kind of service small businesses are uniquely positioned to offer — and the type that keeps communities coming back.

Growing Through Innovation

While tradition is at the heart of Stuart Sports, innovation is driving its new era. Online stores which are custom digital shops for teams, clubs, employees, or events have become the fastest-growing part of the business.

"Our growth from online stores has increased every year," Joe said. "It makes everything easier for customers — no one collects money anymore, and people can order what they want, how they want." From school spirit wear to corporate apparel to fundraisers, Stuart's online stores have expanded both reach and revenue, positioning the business for sustainable, modern growth.

Lessons for New Business Owners

Reflecting on his journey, Joe is candid about what it takes to run a small business, and what he wishes more new owners knew. He shares:

• Lean on people who know more than you do. "I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without help. It's not about pride, it's about getting it right."
• Know your numbers — and trust the right people. Joe brought in his sister as bookkeeper because, as he puts it, "I know what I'm good at and what I'm not good at."
• Keep customers at the center. "My strength is definitely customer service... I try to make it as easy as possible to provide our service. That's the best compliment I get: 'You made this easy.'"

Navigating a Future of Growth

As he looks to the future, Joe has two simple goals fueling him — continue steady growth and preserve the legacy. "This business is successful, and my goal is really to just continue it," he said. "Online stores will be our biggest source of growth. I want to maintain where we're at and keep serving the community."

For Joe, owning Stuart Sports is more than a business; for him, it has genuinely been a homecoming. A way to contribute to the town that shaped him. Reflecting on his journey, he humbly says, "It's a sense of pride. It comes full circle."

Why Supporting Local Matters — and How Your Bank Can Help

Small businesses like Stuart Sports don't just sell products; they create local jobs, preserve traditions, and build connections that last. Joe now employs 12 people whose families rely on the business and he sees community support as essential. "They're everything," he said. "Without them, there's not a whole lot of options. Everybody needs to support local businesses."

Northwest Bank is committed to partnering with community-minded businesses like Stuart Sports, helping them secure financing, strengthen operations, and grow with confidence. For Joe, that partnership made ownership possible. It is also a reminder that the right banking relationship can turn a local dream into a thriving, long-lasting enterprise.

If you're a small business owner or are thinking about becoming one, now is the time to explore the tools that can help you grow.  Connect with a Northwest Bank business banker to discuss SBA-backed financing, cash-flow solutions and personalized guidance for your next step. Because when small businesses flourish, communities do too.