Checking in with Milo Sports

On a recent visit to Salt Lake City, we stopped by Milo Sports, which was getting a head start on the winter season. Manager Jeff Perry caught us up on what was selling at the core Utah snowboard shop.

How was this past summer season for you? 

We’re a little up from last summer; spring was down slightly.

What are your biggest brands right now?

Vans, Nytro, K2 snowboards, Capita, Union Bindings.

Where category does the bulk of your business come from?

The bulk of our business is in snow hardgoods – items like snowboards, etc.

What’s hot, what’s selling, what trends are you seeing?

Adidas, Cons and Vans. We sell these brands 75% of the time for footwear.

Adidas and Cons are super comfy. Adidas has a shoe that looks like a soccer shoe but has a thicker sole, and is a vulcanized/cupsole hybrid. You get the support of a cupsole product but the skateability and flexibility of a vulcanized shoe, so people have been gravitating towards that.

Shoes have gone back to simple; they’re not super techy.

How about for apparel?

Gnarly Clothes and RVCA are doing really well. Gnarly makes shirts that are longer and a little slimmer than most Ts and that’s what kids want. They are also a little softer and not outrageously priced. Tees cost about $22 and Khaki Chino pants cost about $50.

How about Girls? 

Girls is still super hard. I think if you are next to a mall, it’s easier. In snowboards – Girls' products are doing okay though. Outerwear companies like Holden and Volcom do really well. RVCA’s women’s products are also selling. Their stuff is a little more expensive but not outrageous.

Any consumer buying patterns or behavior patterns you are noticing?

The biggest thing we have noticed is people are still buying one or two things. They are coming in and buying exactly what they want. There is still less impulse buying.

In snow, we have seen a bit more impulse buying, and we were up in that category so we’re expecting a good winter.