Tokidoki

OK, I know I promised to continue our discussion on sizing up and fitting children but I have to interrupt that line of thought for a moment. Not being in the warehouse much this summer I didn't get to see everything as it came in. I knew we had some really great stuff coming in from Ride and saw on the reports that some of it was already selling really well. This is a busy time of year and to be honest I really didn't think much of it but when I saw there was a Ride re-order coming off of the truck I had to ask why we were already getting delivery on a re-order instead of selling what we have.

"This stuff is so awesome!" is the answer I got - and I expected it. Each year someone falls in love with at least one product and that is all they want to sell all year. When I saw the packing list though my memories started to flood back - it was a second order of the Ride Tokidoki collection - and yes it is awesome. Frankly I'd forgotten about it. It was a no-brainer easy buy because I knew it would sell and both our hard goods and soft goods snowboard buyers loved it and they rarely agree on anything.

At any rate the entire collection is incredible. It is fun, lively and top-of-the line technology. The project is a collaboration between Ride's technical team and the artist Simone Legno. Tokidoki means 'sometimes' in Japanese and was chosen by Legno because of his love for Japanese culture and the way in which the word symbolizes the magical quality that is found when serendipity, chance, hope and destiny mingle in our daily lives.

So the fun thing is how the project all came together. The collection includes a jacket, which comes in two colorways and includes a pair of Tokidoki knit fingerless gloves, a pant, also in two color ways and comes with a pair of limited edition Tokidoki riding socks, a boot, a binding and a board. It's fun, it's edgy and it has the technology behind it to make for a great day on the hill.

Fitting Children: Snow Sport Sizes Are Different

This installment of Fitting Children may seem a bit off topic but in the process of sorting out my thoughts about fitting children for ski and snowboard wear I realized that it might be important to have a conversation about sizing and the snow sport industry. One of the most important things you need to know is that ski and snowboard wear works off of an old standard size grid. You don't really need a history lesson in garment sizing so I won't go into too much detail. So, sticking to the basics… because there has been so much size inflation in the ready-to-wear market (stuff you buy at the mall) you may find that you run a size, maybe two sizes larger in ski or snowboard wear. This is not because they run small; it is because they work off of a different grid. The dimensions used to calculate a size 6 in ski and snowboard wear are not the same as the dimensions used to calculate a size 6 in ready-to-wear. These dimension vary the most in women's wear but wide variations can be found in men's and children's wear as well. Kids could care less. To them a size is just a number and they love the idea that they are growing and getting bigger is a good thing.

The other difference between snow sports wear and ready-to-wear is there is very little size disparity. Meaning a 12, is a 12, is a 12. When I shop in the mall I sometimes have to try on 3 or 4 of the same size to find just the right fit. The reason for this is that the factory cuts many pieces of fabric at the same time. Layers and layers of fabric are stacked up together and cut with a big machine all at once. While this may be faster and time efficiency saves money it makes for a wide variation in sizes. As the machine pushes down on the pile of fabric the fabric stretches at a different rate depending on where it is in the pile. Ski and snowboard wear doesn't have this problem because the production rate is so much smaller – they simply don't have to cut as many so they don't stack as many. Even if production was high enough to warrant large stacks the high performance fabrics used in the snow sport industry must be treated differently and therefore cannot be stacked and cut in bulk like ready-to-wear goods.

So how can you tell what size your child will take? As a rule of thumb when you are starting your garment search start with sizes that are one number higher than the child's age. So your average 11 year old will typically fit in a size 12. In my next entry I will discuss what sizes are available for children in the snow sport industry and what to do about those in-between kids.

See ya there or on the slopes!

Kjerstin

If They Don't Like It They Won't Wear It!

Fitting a child for ski and snowboard wear is unique because it combines the need for performance with the need of the individual to express themselves. Even at a very young age children have a self-image and should be encouraged to explore it. I remember my very articulate 2-year-old son, looking at the Pooh outfit I’d pulled for him to wear that day and retorting “I’m not wearing that, I look like a dork.” The fact is that performance winter wear is not like a Pooh outfit because once you buy it – you’re stuck with it for a while, it’s not like you have another just hanging in the closet. It is therefore imperative that you take the childes concerns and opinions into account when choosing ski and snowboard apparel. Depending on the age of the child this can be done in several ways. For very young children have them look at several items that are on their needs list. Narrow it down to the ones you feel you could live with and allow them to choose. The younger they are the fewer choices they should have. 2-3 options are usually effective for most kids. Once you have given them the choice do not try to talk them out of it. This will undo all the good you have done by teaching them that even though they have opinions those opinions are somehow wrong or flawed.

For older children give them specific criteria that their purchase must meet for you to approve it. The help them through the process but stand back and allow them to do as much of it as possible – be there for assistance and a sounding board only. The criteria you use may vary depending on what it is they are buying but should include:

1. A Dollar Limit (but allow them to put their own money towards more expensive items if they choose)

2. Proper Fit

3. Must Include the Designated Items on the Checklist

4. Must Fit Into Your Investment Plan (See 2007 entries on Investment Buying)

5. Color Restrictions (if you have anything that nauseates you make sure it is off the list!)

6. Logo Restrictions (many companies have logos, pictures and statements that you may find offensive or inappropriate)

Once you have outlined your requirements let them go from there and again, support them in their decisions – this is an important life lesson that will aid in their decision-making skills in all areas of their life. The key is to be ok with whatever the child chooses (as long as it meets the pre-stated criteria). The number one thing to remember is that no matter how well a garment fits, if the child doesn’t like it they won’t wear it!

As I help people prepare for the coming season the number one question I get is how to fit children. Even if the child is there to try the merchandise on it is often hard for the untrained eye to determine if gear fits well enough to meet the performance needs while still being big enough to get fit for two seasons. Two seasons may seem an optimistic dream but is often quite doable if the child is fit properly and doesn’t go through an abnormal growth spurt.

Over the next few entries I will try to walk you through the basic concepts of fit as well as the specific concerns that need to be addressed when fitting a child. Hopefully it will answer all of your questions but if not feel free to post questions in the comments area and I will address them as soon as possible.

See ya on the slopes!

Kjersitn

Prepare In Advance For The Upcoming Season

I walked my kids home from school today and it was 95 degrees. Now I realize that eventually I will have to go to the mall and buy some long sleeve t-shirts, pants, tights and the like but it just seems so remote I’m just not ready to jump in to that yet. Getting ready for the slopes, however is another story! I am already done for that. I have bins carefully labeled for each family member. Last year at the end of the season I cleaned and folded all of our gear into our bins. Had some stuff repaired, pulled out those things that no longer fit and made a list for each person as to what they needed. Over the summer I filled each persons list and carefully packed the items into their bin – come first snowfall we are ready to rally!

Now I realize that working for a ski and snowboard shop means that I have summer access to goods that others might not but keep in mind that our busiest time, the time I don’t have time to get my family ready is the time that you are trying to get your family together. So yes, I may be ahead of you time-wise but my time is over and yours is just starting. Don’t wait though, now is the time to hit the big pre season sales and catch all of the newest stuff. Ski shops aren’t like the mall stores, there is limited inventory and once it is gone it is gone. Look over the Needs Check List and review the steps for Investment Buying (Snow Deva 2007) and pull what you need together in advance because if the snow comes early you want to be able to just pick up and go and if the slopes open during the holidays you don’t want to compromise your party time by having to wash your sweaters!

Pre Season Sale is a Wrap

So the Willi's Labor Day Pre Season Sale has wrapped up in Pittsburgh for another year. I left tear down at the Greentree Sportsplex just before they cleared out the last few bits and pieces to be packed away for another year. I hear tear down at the Expomart is going equally fast.

If you missed it this year don’t worry – we have lots of great stuff in the store and there is still the Pre Season Sale up at Seven Springs October 4th and 5th. This is a great sale because there is so much going on up at the resort. We’ll be setting up in the store instead of the convention hall this year so that will make us closer to some of the festivities. It will be interesting for sure!

Hope to see you there or on the slopes,

Kjerstin

Pre Season Sale Set Up Going Well

The Sale set up here at the Greentree Sports Complex is going well. It is Wednesday at 2:00 and we are over 1/2 way done. Tomorrow we have to do this all over again on the other side of the city in the Monroeville Expomart. Friday will be saved for the loose ends and last minute details before we open at 9:00 am on Saturday.

Hope to see you there!

Kjersin