Tuesday, June 12, 2007
By WILL HANLON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN — Get ’em while they’re hot, get ’em before they run out!
As Cleveland Cavaliers mania rocks the region, local sporting merchandise retailers are having a hard time keeping their shelves stocked full of anything Cavs-related, from Eastern Conference Championship T-shirts to LeBron James jerseys. They’re going, and they’re going fast.
Doug Cochran, the manager of Positive Images in Newton Falls, said he’s been doing well in terms of Cavs sales all year. But now, after their conference championship victory, sales have picked up even more.
“I’m running out,” Cochran said, referring to what Cavs T-shirts, shorts and hats he has left.
Cochran is banking on the Cavs to win the NBA Finals, as he is in the process of bulking up his next couple of orders.
“I’m ordering well over $2,000 worth of merchandise if they win [the Finals],” Cochran said.
A big factor in the sales this year has been LeBron James, Cochran added.
“His influence has definitely helped increase sales for us.”
Sportstown sales
Vicky Hoffman, the manager of Sportstown in the Southern Park Mall, has been trying to order more Cavs merchandise from the warehouse, but is having difficulty obtaining it because of high demand from other retailers.
“The stores up north are hogging most of the good stuff,” Hoffman said.
Cavaliers hats have been one of the more popular items at Sportstown, according to Hoffman, but it’s hard enough to get them on the shelves, let alone to keep them there.
“Sales really picked up the first days after they won the conference championship,” Hoffman said. “The conference championship T-shirt was really hot.”
Hoffman is also anticipating more sales over the next few days during the Finals as Cavs fans gear up to cheer on their team.
Similar success
Other retailers are finding similar success with the conference championship T-shirt. Champs in the Eastwood Mall carries them, selling them almost as fast they come in.
“We’re probably almost out [of the conference championship T-shirts] again,” Ron Okman, a sales associate said.
Okman said he’s noticed a huge increase in sales not just in the conference championship T-shirts, but in all types of Cavs merchandise, jerseys included. And which jersey is their best seller?
“The James jersey,” Okman said without hesitation.
Dunham’s Sports, also at the Eastwood Mall, shares almost identical results.
“The new Cavs championship T-shirt is the biggest seller,” said Rick Collar, a sales associate.
In terms of jersey sales, Dunham’s customers are no different: Everybody seems to want to wear LeBron’s No. 23.
While sales have already been higher than usual, Collar expects them to increase even more if the Cavs win the Finals, which will be a tall order — they’re trailing the San Antonio Spurs two games to zero in the best-of-seven series.