They say that there’s no business like snow business. Even in our little slice of paradise here in southern New Jersey, we get dumped on if there’s a good storm. Two winters ago showed us record amounts of snow here on the east coast. Our small beach town wasn’t ready for the 20+ inches of snow that we received every week, and lots of our local businesses just closed up shop. On a positive note, the large amounts of snow equals dollar signs for some of my suppliers, as everyone and their mother rushes out to their local shops to pick up North Face Jackets, Volcom Snow Pants, and other assorted gloves, boots and beanies. We too try to carry all of the latest styles and whatnot when it comes to the snowboarding culture. What was once just a surf shop has turned into a year round Mecca for all sorts of surf, skate and now SNOW apparel and accessories. Kona Sports. We got it all.
Last winter was one of the warmest on record for the United States, and this was detrimental in a few ways. Large companies that depend on the cold weather suffered a great deal, with vendors calling up and canceling orders left and right. Without the cold weather, and very little snow, there was no need for all of the heavy clothing and accessories. I attended the EWSRA Snow show last January, and it was a somber experience. I got to speak to my Go Pro camera representative, and he told me that there are a ton of businesses that depend on the freezing of the Great Lakes. These lakes did not freeze last year. This meant that snowmobiling businesses, ice fishing businesses, and even generic ski shops never got the normal amount of income needed to thrive through the winter. Many of these locations had to close because of the warm weather. Its a shame, but a factor that we seasonal shops ALL have to deal with.
In the end, all we can do is hope for clear skies, warm water and good surf. Mother nature can be a cruel temptress sometimes, and there really isn’t anything that we can do about it. Rolling with the punches is something that Kona Sports has excelled at, and that is why we are going into our 43rd year of business. Hopefully we see some snow this year, along with sunshine. Check Konasports.com for the all the newest snow apparel and accessories from brands like Roxy, Billabong and Patagonia!