Match Every Athlete to the Right Gear, Not the Most Expensive Gear
The difference between a beginner ski and an expert ski is not just price. It is performance, safety, and whether someone enjoys the sport enough to come back. Mika asks the questions that get customers into the gear that actually fits their level.
Wrong gear ruins the experience. A tennis racket that is too heavy, running shoes that overpronate, a bike that is the wrong frame size. The right conversation prevents the wrong purchase.
The Sporting Goods Website Problem
Skill Level Determines Everything But Websites Ignore It
Your website sorts skis by brand and price. A beginner needs a forgiving flex pattern. An expert wants stiffness and edge grip. Both end up on the same product page with the same description. Without someone to ask 'how long have you been skiing?', the beginner buys the expert ski and has a terrible time.
Sizing for Equipment Is Not Like Sizing for Clothes
A bike frame size depends on inseam and torso length, not shirt size. A tennis racket grip depends on hand measurement. Ski boots need shell fit, not shoe size. Your customers know their shoe size and shirt size. They do not know their equipment sizes. A size chart alone does not bridge that gap.
Seasonal Gear Questions Arrive Before Your Staff Is Ready
The first warm weekend in March, your website gets flooded with visitors looking for hiking boots, camping gear, and fishing equipment. In November, it is ski gear and cold-weather running clothes. Your in-store staff knows the seasonal transition. Your website shows the same static catalog year-round.
Comparison Shopping Is Exhausting Without Expert Context
A customer is choosing between three trail running shoes. The product pages list drop heights, cushioning types, and lug patterns. The customer has no idea what 4mm drop means or why Vibram soles matter. They spend 45 minutes reading reviews and still feel uncertain. In your store, a staffer would ask three questions and hand them the right shoe.
What Mika Does for Sporting Goods
Every feature is designed for how sporting goods customers actually shop and buy.
Skill-Level Matching
Mika asks about experience level, frequency, and goals. A beginner golfer gets different club recommendations than someone breaking 80. The suggestions come from your catalog, filtered by the criteria your staff would use in-store.
Activity-Specific Gear Lists
'I am going backpacking for the first time.' Mika builds a gear checklist from your catalog: pack, sleeping bag, tent, water filter, headlamp. It asks about trip length, expected weather, and budget to tailor the list.
Equipment Sizing Guidance
Mika walks customers through the measurements they need for bikes, skis, rackets, and other sized equipment. 'What is your inseam in inches?' or 'Measure around your dominant hand just below the knuckles.' Then it maps those measurements to products in your catalog.
Gear Comparison in Plain Language
When a customer is deciding between two products, Mika explains the differences in terms they understand. Not '4mm drop vs 8mm drop' but 'this shoe encourages a more natural stride, while this one gives more heel cushioning for longer runs.' The technical specs are translated using your knowledge base.
Seasonal Sport Awareness
Configure seasonal notes in your knowledge base. Mika recommends layering systems for winter running, suggests transitioning from indoor to outdoor gear in spring, and highlights your seasonal sales or new arrivals at the right time.
Demo and Fitting Appointments
For equipment that requires professional fitting (bikes, ski boots, golf clubs), Mika books in-store fitting appointments. It captures what the customer needs so your technicians can prepare.
Real Questions Your Customers Ask
These conversations happen on sporting goods websites every day. Without Mika, every one ends with the customer leaving.
"I want to start running but I have flat feet, what shoes should I get?"
Biomechanics-aware recommendation. Mika asks about running surface (road vs trail), weekly mileage goals, and budget. It suggests stability or motion-control shoes from your catalog based on the flat feet note and can recommend a professional gait analysis at your store.
"My kid is 10 and wants to try skiing, what do we need?"
Youth beginner gear question. Mika asks about the child's height, weight, and shoe size, then recommends appropriately sized junior skis, boots, poles, and a helmet from your inventory. It notes that kids grow fast and can mention your trade-in program if you have one.
"What is the difference between the Osprey Atmos and the Gregory Baltoro?"
Direct product comparison. Mika explains the differences from your knowledge base: fit system, weight, ventilation, load capacity. It asks what the customer's trip profile looks like to recommend the better match for their use case.
"I need a wetsuit for surfing in Northern California, what thickness?"
Climate-specific gear question. Mika asks about the season they will be surfing (water temps vary from the 50s in winter to mid-60s in summer) and recommends the appropriate thickness from your catalog. Practical regional knowledge configured in your knowledge base.
"Can I get a bike fitting at your shop? I just bought a road bike online and it does not feel right"
Service booking for an existing purchase. Mika books a bike fitting appointment and captures what the customer is experiencing (knee pain, back soreness, numbness). Your fitter walks in knowing what to look for.
"I am training for a half marathon in October, what should I add to my gear?"
Training-stage-aware recommendation. Mika asks about current gear, weekly mileage, and the race location. It suggests items they might be missing: a hydration vest for long runs, body glide for chafing, race-day nutrition, and a second pair of rotation shoes if they are logging high mileage.
Conversations Informed by Psychology Research
Mika is not a generic chatbot with your product list attached. Every conversation is informed by psychology research on how people make purchasing decisions, continuously refined to guide shoppers from browsing to buying without ever feeling pushy.
Reads Shopper Intent
Mika identifies whether a visitor is browsing casually, searching for something specific, or ready to buy. Each conversation adapts to where the shopper is in their decision process.
Builds Trust Naturally
Shoppers buy from businesses they trust. Mika builds trust through helpful, honest recommendations instead of aggressive sales tactics. Visitors never feel sold to, they feel guided.
Guides to Action
Every conversation has a natural arc that moves shoppers from curiosity to commitment. Whether the action is sharing contact info, booking an appointment, or visiting your store, Mika creates a path that feels organic.
Mika's conversation strategy is developed with psychology research and continuously refined. Visitors interact with an AI that feels genuinely helpful, not a script disguised as conversation.
Sporting Goods: Before and After Mika
The same customers, the same questions, completely different outcomes.
The Right Gear Makes the Sport. The Wrong Gear Kills It.
There is a reason people go to specialty sporting goods stores instead of ordering everything online. They want someone to tell them which shoe fits their stride, which ski matches their ability, and which tent will actually hold up in wind. That expertise is the reason your store exists. It is the reason a customer drives past a big-box chain to come to you.
But your website does not have that expertise available. It has product pages with specs that mean nothing to most shoppers. Drop height. Flex index. Denier rating. Your staff translates these specs into plain language every day on the sales floor. 'This boot is stiffer, so it responds faster, but it is less forgiving if your technique is still developing.' That sentence sells the right boot. A spec sheet does not.
Mika brings that translation layer to your website. It asks about skill level, intended use, body measurements, and budget. Then it recommends gear from your catalog using the same logic your best floor staff uses. The customer who chats with Mika either buys online with confidence or walks into your store knowing exactly what they want to try on. Either way, they end up with the right gear, which means they enjoy the sport, which means they come back for more.
Retail Pricing
Plans built for retail stores with product catalogs. AI product search with photo cards, lead capture, and appointment booking included.
Starter
For stores getting started with product search in chat.
- ✓~100 conversations/month
- ✓Up to 500 SKUs
- ✓Product search in chat
- ✓Product cards with photos
- ✓Lead capture + email alerts
- ✓8 languages
Core
For growing stores with larger catalogs.
- ✓~250 conversations/month
- ✓Up to 2,000 SKUs
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓5 team members
- ✓Staff booking + waitlist
- ✓Custom brand colors
- ✓Auto follow-ups
Pro
For large catalogs and high-volume stores.
- ✓Unlimited conversations
- ✓Unlimited SKUs
- ✓Everything in Core
- ✓25 team members
- ✓Multiple locations
- ✓Full widget customization
- ✓Priority support
*Conversation estimates based on average usage. Actual capacity depends on conversation length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Mika replace an in-store fitting?
No. For equipment that requires professional fitting (bikes, ski boots, golf clubs), Mika captures the customer's measurements and goals, then books an in-store fitting appointment. It does not replace hands-on fitting. It gets the customer into your store with the right expectations.
How does Mika handle gear for sports it does not know about?
Mika's knowledge comes entirely from what you configure. If you sell archery equipment and add archery-specific guidance to your knowledge base (draw weight by experience level, arrow length by draw length), Mika uses that information. It works for any sport you teach it about.
Will Mika recommend gear that is out of stock?
Mika recommends from your uploaded catalog. It does not track real-time inventory levels. If a product is discontinued or out of stock, remove it from your catalog CSV. For seasonal items, update the catalog as your inventory changes.
Can Mika give training or coaching advice?
Mika is a product recommendation tool, not a coach. It does not create training plans or give fitness advice. If your knowledge base includes general guidance ('first-time half marathoners should build up to 25-30 miles per week'), Mika can share it. For actual coaching, it would direct customers to your coaching services if you offer them.
How does Mika handle safety-critical gear questions?
Mika shares product safety information from your catalog and knowledge base (helmet ratings, weight limits, recommended use). It does not make safety certifications or liability claims. For critical safety decisions, it recommends an in-store consultation with your staff.
Does Mika work for both online-only stores and stores with physical locations?
Yes. For online-only stores, Mika focuses on product recommendations, sizing guidance, and gear lists. For stores with physical locations, it adds appointment booking for fittings, demos, and in-store consultations. You configure which services you offer.
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Learn moreGet Every Customer Into the Right Gear
Your staff's expertise sells the right equipment. Mika puts that expertise on your website 24/7.
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