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The economy has taken flight to some degree since we last reported on the State of The Industry a year ago, but it can’t really seem to gain altitude - and it is encountering turbulence which makes it rise and fall.

For retailers and suppliers, though, the outlook is more positive than it was at this time last year, and the general consensus is that although progress is slow and intermittent, the worst is most likely over.

Hy Slavin of Alpha Industries notes that the industry welcomed an apparent return to stability, “Things have leveled off. The retailers aren’t hurting as much as they once were,” said Slavin.

He indicated that although cold weather generally helps sales, that we may have experienced too much of a “good” thing this past winter.

“Cold weather spurs on sales of outerwear and footwear, but there were too many days where storms and conditions prevented shoppers from getting to the stores,” noted Slavin.

But Slavin senses a more upbeat mood among retailers.

“Army/navy stores definitely seem more optimistic. They’re learning how promote the value of their products in a down economy,” he said.

Jim Gilbertson of Eagle Emblems in California described their own business as on the upswing, and said that business conditions were slightly improving for their retailers.

“It seems to be a bit of a mixed bag for many, but it’s been mostly good for us, though,” he observed.
Gilbertson believes that the economic downturn spelled the end for many weaker and underperforming stores, while the stronger businesses survived and even thrived.

“It always seems to be that way when times get tough,” he said.

Change begets more change

In the midwest, Danny Fox of Fox Outdoor Products sees an industry in transition.

“How do you define an industry? Many of the independents are gone and our trade show situation is not like it was in the Walter Fletcher era,” said Fox.

Fox views his company as one of the survivors, able to change and adapt with the marketplace.