Chicago space sports retailers are getting a giant enhance from the Bears’ successful streak because the crew gears up for playoffs.
At Clark Street Sports’ eight shops throughout the Chicago space, gross sales of Bears merchandise have jumped 41% in comparison with final 12 months, co-owner Jason Caref mentioned.
It’s onerous to know if the gross sales had been as a result of robust Christmas purchasing, Caref mentioned. But there’s been an plain surge, particularly since the Bears’ improbable comeback victory against the Green Bay Packers final week. The crew is headed to the playoffs for the primary time since January 2021.
The Bears’ successful streak is a “huge boost to our business. Christmas came early for our company this year,” Caref mentioned.
Online and in-store gross sales at Clark Street Sports have been robust in latest weeks. It’s even been onerous to discover a parking spot at its busiest retailer in Albany Park, 4506 W. Lawrence Ave. Store supervisor Fatima Reynoso mentioned this previous week has been the busiest she’s seen throughout her 4 years working at the store.
On Friday, Camilo Cumpian was there to purchase a Bears hat for his 11-year-old son, Orlando. The hat is a tribute to Super Bowl XX, which the Bears received in 1986.
“If we’re lucky, history will repeat itself,” Cumpian mentioned. He remembers watching the sport as a child. “It’s something I’ll never forget.” Cumpian hopes his son may have an identical expertise, if the Bears proceed to win.
Wrigleyville Sports, at 959 W. Addison St., has additionally seen robust demand for Bears merchandise. “Sales have been crazy,” Devin Carlstrom, Wrigleyville Sports’ normal supervisor, mentioned. Bears gear “was on everyone’s Christmas list.”
“People have been ordering online as well as coming into the store for last-minute gifts,” he mentioned. “On Bears game days, customers have been coming in to buy team merchandise.”
“Good, Better, Best” T-shirts and sweatshirts, referencing coach Ben Johnson’s acquainted post-game slogan, have additionally been widespread at the Wrigleyville retailer. “Anything with the Bears,” Carlstrom mentioned.
The Bears’ wins have given a great addition to small companies, together with card and sports memorabilia stores, which have weathered a litany of challenges this 12 months, together with inflation and tariffs. Chicago sports retailers have additionally confronted the problem of promoting gear of struggling hometown groups.
“It’s a challenge to buy merch for teams that are not performing well,” Caref mentioned.
But this was a turnaround 12 months, first with the Cubs making it to the National League Division Series this fall and now the Bears’ banner season.
Addam Haynes, of Jefferson Park, was at Clark Street Sports to purchase extra Bears T-shirts despite the fact that he acquired crew merchandise for Christmas. He was thrilled when the crew received final weekend.
“You’re always nervous when you’re a Bears fan,” Haynes mentioned. Now that the crew is successful, “it’s exciting to wear their clothes,” he added. “The whole city is behind them. It doesn’t matter who you are.”
Mayfair resident Xiomara DeLeon was at the shop to change a Bears sweatshirt. She was excited however not stunned by the crew’s win final weekend. “I have faith,” she mentioned.
At Clark Street Sports, jerseys of star rookies similar to working again Kyle Monangai and tight finish Colston Loveland have been notably sizzling. Monangai jerseys, promoting for $130 and $175, offered out inside 48 hours, Caref mentioned. Orange jerseys have been promoting properly too.
Merchandise with “Good, Better, Best” have been bestsellers, Caref added. “We can’t keep it in stock. As soon as we get it in, it’s gone.”
With a chilly snap blasting Chicago round Thanksgiving, Bears-branded winter hats, gloves, scarves, blankets and face masks have additionally been widespread at Clark Street Sports.
Clarks Street Sports has new merchandise declaring the Bears division champions able to go, however they’ll’t promote it until the crew wins within the common season. But Caref is optimistic. “As soon as they win, we can sell it.”
Wes Nunez has labored as an affiliate at Clark Street Sports for eight months and famous the satisfaction in followers coming to the shop. As a “huge Bears fan,” Nunez has been having in-depth conversations with enthusiastic prospects about teaching and technique.
The crew has been dysfunctional for therefore lengthy, however “now we can see this is going right. It’s long awaited, to say the least,” he mentioned.
When Nunez was out at bars after final weekend’s sport, the environment “was electric. Everyone was grinning from ear to ear.”
Football is greater than a sport, Nunez mentioned. “It brings the community together. Everyone is proud to be a Chicagoan now.”