Weather Cutting Into Winter Sports Profits
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
During a typical winter, people enjoy skiing and ice skating.
So far, the 1998-99 winter season isn't a typical winter, and some local sports shops can tell by their lack of winter equipment sales.
"The winter equipment is not really selling at all," said Brian McClelland, business manager for Reneker's Sports Shop and Ski Hut.
He said winter sports equipment sales have been low for the past two years because of the abnormal winter weather. Some customers still purchase the merchandise, however, in hopes that the winter weather will bring snow sooner or later, he said.
"People are buying them for Christmas presents, hoping the weather will change," McClelland said.
Sales have been soft, but Reneker's winter goods sales are where they were last year, he said. Also, Reneker's ordered less winter gear this year because of the expectations of La Ni-a and the kind of weather predicted. He said they did not make as big an investment as previous years and they have gear left over from last year.
Reneker's sells Columbia winter jackets, ski hats, ski gloves, socks, turtle fur, ear bands, neck bands, downhill skis and cross country skis.
"We do have three separate coupons running for 25 percent off through Christmas, hoping to influence people to come in," McClelland said.
Dan Kerlin, owner of Warsaw Replay Sports, said the warm winter season has altered his store's schedule.
"More than anything, it's kind of rearranged the schedule. We're still selling traditional fall equipment like golf clubs and roller blades," Kerlin said.
The sooner the snow and ice arrives, he said, the better jump it will give his store on sales. If the traditional winter weather doesn't arrive until January or after, he said, that will hurt his business some.
"So far it hasn't hurt much. We do sell other stuff, but that won't last forever," he said.
Sales for Warsaw Replay Sports are running basically the same as last year, Kerlin said, because last year's weather was warm, too.
"Normally, by now, we hope to have been selling hockey equipment and skates, but I haven't seen sales in those yet," he said.
Kerlin also said businesses that sell winter sports equipment haven't felt the pressure of selling their winter products yet through large sales or promotions.
"We haven't seen any great or heavy seasonal discounting in winter products yet. Next week, if the weather changes, they could take off," he said.
If the winter season progresses and winter weather doesn't arrive, Kerlin said, he may have to discount the products where he bought heavily. But, he said, there is only so much he can do.
"You can only discount so much," he said.
Warsaw Replay Sports sells snow skis, snowboards, ice skates and hockey equipment, plus all the products one uses indoors during the winter season, such as treadmills.
"Those are a little depressed because people are walking outdoors still," he said.
Fred Heady, assistant in sporting goods at Wal-Mart, said the warm winter weather has affected their store some.
"The main thing is that it has hurt our winter clothing," he said. "We've marked some stuff down."
He said overall sales aren't that bad, however, because the home office keeps track of the stock so the store doesn't get overstocked.
It's too early to tell what the weather will bring in the coming weeks and months.
But skiers and ice skaters are hoping for snow.
And so are the businessmen with winter sports equipment to sale. [[In-content Ad]]
During a typical winter, people enjoy skiing and ice skating.
So far, the 1998-99 winter season isn't a typical winter, and some local sports shops can tell by their lack of winter equipment sales.
"The winter equipment is not really selling at all," said Brian McClelland, business manager for Reneker's Sports Shop and Ski Hut.
He said winter sports equipment sales have been low for the past two years because of the abnormal winter weather. Some customers still purchase the merchandise, however, in hopes that the winter weather will bring snow sooner or later, he said.
"People are buying them for Christmas presents, hoping the weather will change," McClelland said.
Sales have been soft, but Reneker's winter goods sales are where they were last year, he said. Also, Reneker's ordered less winter gear this year because of the expectations of La Ni-a and the kind of weather predicted. He said they did not make as big an investment as previous years and they have gear left over from last year.
Reneker's sells Columbia winter jackets, ski hats, ski gloves, socks, turtle fur, ear bands, neck bands, downhill skis and cross country skis.
"We do have three separate coupons running for 25 percent off through Christmas, hoping to influence people to come in," McClelland said.
Dan Kerlin, owner of Warsaw Replay Sports, said the warm winter season has altered his store's schedule.
"More than anything, it's kind of rearranged the schedule. We're still selling traditional fall equipment like golf clubs and roller blades," Kerlin said.
The sooner the snow and ice arrives, he said, the better jump it will give his store on sales. If the traditional winter weather doesn't arrive until January or after, he said, that will hurt his business some.
"So far it hasn't hurt much. We do sell other stuff, but that won't last forever," he said.
Sales for Warsaw Replay Sports are running basically the same as last year, Kerlin said, because last year's weather was warm, too.
"Normally, by now, we hope to have been selling hockey equipment and skates, but I haven't seen sales in those yet," he said.
Kerlin also said businesses that sell winter sports equipment haven't felt the pressure of selling their winter products yet through large sales or promotions.
"We haven't seen any great or heavy seasonal discounting in winter products yet. Next week, if the weather changes, they could take off," he said.
If the winter season progresses and winter weather doesn't arrive, Kerlin said, he may have to discount the products where he bought heavily. But, he said, there is only so much he can do.
"You can only discount so much," he said.
Warsaw Replay Sports sells snow skis, snowboards, ice skates and hockey equipment, plus all the products one uses indoors during the winter season, such as treadmills.
"Those are a little depressed because people are walking outdoors still," he said.
Fred Heady, assistant in sporting goods at Wal-Mart, said the warm winter weather has affected their store some.
"The main thing is that it has hurt our winter clothing," he said. "We've marked some stuff down."
He said overall sales aren't that bad, however, because the home office keeps track of the stock so the store doesn't get overstocked.
It's too early to tell what the weather will bring in the coming weeks and months.
But skiers and ice skaters are hoping for snow.
And so are the businessmen with winter sports equipment to sale. [[In-content Ad]]