Game On
Summer is a time that lends itself to recreation and leisure, a chance to take in the outdoors and languish in the sunshine. And for every industrious moment folks spend working hard, they certainly deserve to play hard, too.
Marlin Yoder, the current proprietor of GameTime in Millersburg, Indiana, understands the essence of the work-life balance. The shop is situated within the spacious Millersburg Feeds facility, located at the crossroads of County Road 40 and State Road 13. Within the shared complex, shoppers can find a variety of outdoor gaming implements, balls and other types of sporting equipment.
Yoder took over the stewardship of GameTime from the previous owner, Larry Miller, who founded the business around 2010. Miller and Yoder have been well acquainted over the years, as Miller had hired Yoder to assist in his bike shop some years ago. When Miller made plans to sell the GameTime aspect of his business, Yoder seized the opportunity to take things over.
Yoder’s pledge and promise to customers is a simple one.
“We want to make things available for all different kinds of people,” he says.
The inventory is typically rotated to align with the appropriate seasons, which means that currently, warm-weather gear is selling vigorously. Yoder says that among the top-selling items are baseball and softball gear, such as cleats and composite bats, accessories for bucket golf and kites. And he still works on bicycle repairs to keep those longtime customers up and riding.
In the winter, Yoder notes that there tends to be a keener interest in things like board and card games, but he has noticed a significant uptick in ice skate sales. He listens carefully to what customers want, and he takes those trends into consideration when ordering new merchandise for a rapidly growing business.
“If something new comes out, I want to make that available,” Yoder says.
GameTime also features an event trailer that can be rented for special functions. The trailer is well stocked with seasonal equipment and has been used for everything from birthday parties to school-sponsored festivities and functions.
Yoder also stays apprised of the coordination of various area leagues that focus on certain athletic endeavors. There are leagues for pingpong, darts and pickleball, and there are other unique sports to participate in, such as Spyderball, cornhole, Spyder Pong, Bottle Bash and giant Connect Four boards.
Yoder, a man who is a master of time management, continues to assist at the feed store as his schedule permits. Both he and his wife, Karen, are lifelong residents of the area. He was raised in Nappanee, and she grew up in Topeka. They are the parents of three daughters: Audrey, 5; Alisa, 3; and Evelyn, 1.
To visit GameTime, head to 66094 State Road 13, located at the northern fringe of rural Millersburg. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The business is closed Sundays. Guests can also call ahead and make inquiries at 574-330-9020.
