Exploring Life & Business with Maria Dinoia of The Tennis Store

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Dinoia.

Hi Maria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My husband lost his corporate job during Covid. We wanted to take some time to decide our next steps. We always wanted to own our business together, but not necessarily start one. We heard that The Tennis Store was for sale, so we inquired. Our son plays tennis, so we periodically went to the store and learned a little about the sport. They say timing is everything, and we decided to make the purchase. We’ve now owned the store since November of 2021.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a mostly smooth road. The previous owners were instrumental in helping us get our footing. And they retained a wonderful, loyal customer base that we have maintained. The biggest struggle for me has been learning all there is to know about racquet sports. There’s so much to learn from pickleball paddles for high-level players who want to spin the right strings to put in a tennis racquet if you suffer from tennis elbow. I’m still learning.

We’ve been impressed with The Tennis Store, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m not in the store every day, as I also work part-time as the editor of Franklin and Thompson’s Station Lifestyle magazines. At the store, I’m primarily responsible for apparel and gifts. And I also handle marketing and PR; my strengths complement my husband Len, the store’s face. He’s there every day, meeting customers. We are a local, small business and are so proud to serve the community where we both live and work. Any brick-and-mortar retailer competes with the online shopping world, so we work hard to provide our customers with exceptional service and regularly updated inventory so they keep wanting to come back.

Are books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Since I’m still trying to learn more about tennis, I listen to The Tennis Podcast and read Pickleball magazine, among others.

Contact Info:

• Website: TheTennisStore.net
• Instagram: Instagram.com/tennis_store_of_franklin
• Facebook: Facebook.com/tennisstoreoffranklin
• Twitter: Twitter.com/powertennis1