Plenty in store for Roughriders at this time of year
11/08/2024 05:08 PM
Although the Saskatchewan Roughriders have completed their 2024 home schedule, fans keep flocking to Mosaic Stadium.
Business is brisk at the Rider Store as the CFL team prepares for the looming Western Final and what could transpire beyond Saturday's matchup with the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
"It has been a good year overall," Director of Retail Sales and Licensing Mark Habicht says. "We hope that continues as we head more deeply into the playoffs and into Christmas, which is a busy time."
Habicht cites several factors that contribute to the Roughriders' success on the merchandising side:
• The Rider Nation Alternate Jerseys — a new Obsidian Green look — have "exceeded our expectations" in terms of their popularity.
• The ever-increasing identifiability and popularity of players such as Kian Schaffer-Baker, Trevor Harris, Rolan Milligan Jr. and A.J. Ouellette has energized the sales of traditional and alternate jerseys.
• Attentiveness to the needs and habits of customers, in-person and online, has created positive sentiments on both sides of the transaction.
• The performance of the team — which rebounded from back-to-back 6-12 seasons by finishing second in the West Division and then defeating the visiting 28-19 B.C. Lions last weekend — is another catalyst.
The most-recent result moved the Roughriders to within one victory of a berth in the 111th Grey Cup Game, to be played Nov. 17 in Vancouver.
"It has been really nice, and really busy, since we clinched the playoff spot," Habicht says.
"From a retail standpoint, it's probably going to be a pretty solid year, based on the ebb and flow."
There is, however, one constant factor.
"The business never stops all year-round," he says. "It just morphs and priorities shift a little bit."
Habicht is dealing with dual priorities at the moment.
Priority #1: To satisfy the current customers.
"There's a lot of traffic online," he notes. "People have been ordering from across the country. There has been a surge of business from Vancouver, which I hope is a good sign.
"We're busy, but hopefully not as busy as we're going to be."
That brings us to Priority #2: Planning for what may transpire next week and beyond.
"It's sort of like the calm before the storm," Habicht observes. "The wind has picked up and the rain is starting, but it hasn't turned into a full-out hurricane."
Not yet, anyway. If the Roughriders win on Saturday …
"You have to be ready for all possibilities," Habicht says. "This is not a good job for people who are superstitious, because you're making plans while the playoffs are on."
The planning is done so that the team is ready for a possible deluge of customers during and after Grey Cup Week.
"You have to place all these orders ahead of time," Habicht says. "It's not arrogance or cockiness. It's just a matter of preparedness. We have to put in an order to stake our claim."
After all, merchandise that commemorates a Grey Cup appearance and, ideally, a victory does not appear on shelves or websites out of the blue — or green, as it were.
"We're going through all the 'what if …?' possibilities and determining what we would buy if things go our way," Habicht says.
He knows the routine, having been part of the organization when it won West Division championships in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
On Nov. 24, 2013, the retail game plan was executed so superbly that rejoicing fans who exited historic Mosaic Stadium following the Roughriders' 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were able to purchase Grey Cup championship merchandise on the spot.
Other teams, in other leagues or sports, must also exercise foresight. Habicht pointed to the recent World Series as an example, noting that the retail arms of the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees had to prepare and project — recognizing that some items will never hit the shelves if the desired outcome does not materialize.
"It really is a gamble," Habicht says. "As with any gamble, retailers are trying to manage risks and rewards. Those are the games that everyone plays. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose."
The wins, however, can be game changers.
"It really is a limited window," Habicht says. "It's a hot market and you have to fill the expectations. Customers want that product and you have to get it on the shelves."
With that in mind, suppliers such as New Era routinely set up shop in the host city of a championship event to minimize gaps in time between production and availability.
"The best delivery system is if you can get the merchandise on the team's charter and get it back here," Habicht says.
"This is a very exciting and stressful time because you're trying to work through all the angles and opportunities.
"At the end of the day, it's all about trying to give our customers what they're looking for."
