5 minute read
ASSOCIATION NOW
by NSGA
Gately Reflects on Career, Future of Snow Sports
Tom Gately is nearing the finish line of a long career in the snow sports industry. As he prepares for retirement, the president of the Snowsports Merchandising Corporation (SMC) buying group and member of the National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association (NSSRA) Board of Directors took some time to reflect on his career and what the future looks like for snow sports in this Q&A for NSGA NOW with NSSRA president Julie Pitts.
Q: When did you start at SMC and what positions have you held during your tenure?
A: It was 1987 when I moved my young family from Vermont in order to take the position of Product Manager at SMC in Massachusetts. I became Managing Director in 1993 and that position’s title was changed to President in 2012.
Q: How long have you been involved in the snow sports industry and what got you started?
A: After graduating from the University of Buffalo with a math degree in 1975, my sister asked me what I was going to do with the degree. I said I had no clue. She said, “Why don’t you go up to Killington (Vermont) and teach skiing for a year and figure it out?” I thought that was a great idea so I did. I got into ski resort retail after my first winter there. It was a few years later that I attended my first ski show in Las Vegas as a retail buyer. It was through that experience that I became smitten with the industry.
Q: Do you have any predictions about how the industry will change in the next 12 to 36 months?
A:I’m hopeful that with the influx of new and lapsed skiers entering our sports last winter looking for safe, exhilarating, family outdoor activity that the investment in gear will “stick” and that most will continue on to become lifelong participants.
Q: What have been the biggest challenges for ski and snowboard retailers during the COVID pandemic?
A: The biggest challenge last year was adapting to the unknown. Yes, there were good reports from bike and outdoor from the summer of 2020 but nobody was sure whether that enthusiasm would translate to winter activities. There was optimism that the areas would figure it out but still, there was uncertainty. Luckily, specialty retailers do what they do best; they’re extremely nimble and they adapted to meet the challenge. A: I think specialty retailers do a great job of speaking to their existing customer base. However, they need help reaching non-participants to show them the programs they already have in place - like junior lease programs that make it extremely easy for a family to get started and stay involved.
Q: How has SMC’s mission evolved during your time with the group?
A: The basic mission hasn’t changed. Our members’ businesses have become increasingly more challenging with the increase in number of distribution channels. We’ve done whatever we can to make their lives easier and represented their best interests to the trade. The goal is to ensure they remain the backbone of the industry.
Q: Why is specialty retail still important for the ski and snowboard industry?
A:Specialty retailers are the most direct contact with the skiing and riding public. It is where the passion for our sports becomes contagious and we have the best chance to bring in new participants to share in our enthusiasm.
Q: SMC just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020. What will make it successful in the next 50 years?
A:I have no doubt that SMC will continue to focus on doing what is right for the snowsports specialty retailer and their vendor partners.
Q: Do you ski and/or snowboard? When did you begin?
A:I am a lifelong skier. My parents were the ski school at Hartwell Hill in the late ‘50s early ‘60s. It was a small family slope with two rope tows near what is now Nashoba Valley in eastern Massachusetts. I was a lodge rat and eventually took to the hill. While my parents were giving lessons, they relied on others in the lodge to watch over me. My mom had to pin a sign on my jacket saying “Do Not Feed” as I used to beg for French fries and couldn’t eat my dinner.
Q: What are your plans for retirement?
A:I plan to spend as much time as possible outdoors. What that looks like, I’m still trying to figure out, but am excited to begin this new adventure.
STAND OUT & STAY WARM
ASI/43792 PPAI 111597 SAGE 50597 DC#101506 CAPAMRCA
ELITE KNITS
Colorful, Creative & Custom Made in the USA. Show off your brand with the best knits available!
AVAILABLE STYLES:
1 EK4 ELITE KNIT EARBAND 1 EK9 ELITE KNIT BEANIE 1 EK12 ELITE KNIT CAP WITH CUFF 1 EK60 60 INCH ELITE SCARF WITH ELITE FRINGE
31 YARN COLORS AVAILABLE!
*MAXIMUM OF FOUR YARN COLORS PER KNIT DESIGN
CHECK OUT OUR FULL KNIT LINE ON CAPAMERICA.COM
Minimum quantity order is 24 pieces per style, color combination & design. Column pricing applies at 24 & 48 pieces. Maximum of four yarn colors per knit cap or scarf. Free embroidery tapes on all styles & locations. For current production times, please contact customer service. FOB: Missouri.
REACH OUT TO YOUR CONTACTS:
James Matson
VP OF SALES/SPORTING GOODS jamesm@capamerica.com 573-944-2916
Grace Schettler
