Dreaming of a White Christmas
Snow has created a theme for Juneau gift-giving this season
Though hundreds of Christmas songs are piped through stereo systems at retail stores this time of year, "Let it Snow" is the song of the season for some Juneau proprietors.
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"The snowier it is, the more we sell," said Betsy Fischer, who owns Foggy Mountain Shop with her husband, Scott. "And we're on the verge of having an outstanding snow year."
In the last two months, Foggy Mountain Shop has sold more skis than the previous two years. Backcountry randonee skis and Nordic skate skis have been the most popular sellers.
"Everybody's jumping on the bandwagon," Fischer said.
Softshell jackets, which "aren't hard nylon shell but aren't fuzzy fleece," have been a popular gift this year as well, Fischer said. The jackets are promoted as "two jackets in one" and sell for $200 and up.
By Thursday, Fischer already had a pretty good idea of how sales would fare this holiday shopping season.
"We're doing great compared to the last three years," she said.
Thursday, one week before Christmas, was a big day for the store because it was the deadline for most catalog purchases to arrive in Juneau in time for Christmas. Sales usually jump considerably at the store once that deadline is met, Fischer said.
Boarderline, a snowboarding shop in the Nugget Mall, also attributes high sales this season to the weather. The store has sold more snowboard gear and clothing - especially women's outerwear - this year than in previous years, said salesman Derek Liska.
The store also has sold a good number of snowskate boards - short boards without wheels that allow skateboarders to practice their sport year-round.
"It's fun. ... It gives you something to do in the winter," said Liska, who owns a snowskate board. Only a few years old, the sport of snowskating has competitions around the states. Boarderline carried the boards last year, but has seen a significant rise in sales this year.
Though she doesn't sell any outdoor gear, Susan Sutton, owner of Susan's Hallmark in the Nugget Mall, said the snowy weather has contributed to her high sales as well.
"It's weird, but I think the snow really helps put people in the mood," she said. Sales at the store are considerably higher this year than in years past.
Susan's Hallmark logs most of its seasonal sales in Christmas cards, but does a fair trade in ornaments as well, Sutton said. Ornaments go on display in her store beginning in July.
Christmas sales begin to grow three weeks before Christmas and continue to grow until the day after Christmas, when shoppers line up to get half-off cards, she said.
In addition to used books, which sell quite well during the holidays, Christmas cards and some satirical books are selling well at Rainy Day Books, said Rory McMahon, who works at the store.
"The 'Damn!' card, which has Santa Claus being shot out of the sky by a hunter - those have gone really well this year," McMahon said.
Also selling well is a book entitled "The Madness of King George," which pokes fun at President Bush, he said.
Shovels and ice melters are selling well at Western Auto Marine this season, but not necessarily as Christmas gifts, said John Weedman, general manager of the store.
"Electronics of just about any kind are pretty popular," he said. Tools, flashlights and pocket knives sell well every year, as do radio-controlled cars, he said.
New products at the store this year include portable DVD players with their own screen.
Sales at Western Auto Marine have been better this year than last, but the busiest days for the store will be this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Weedman said.