Team Insight

Inventory concerns are lessened in the team sock market as dealers adjust to renewed demand. By Carly Russo APPAREL TEAM SOCKS SIMPLE SOCKS S upply chain issues have disrupted the team sports industry during the past three years with gaps in stock, incomplete orders and difficulty finding the right colors to properly outfit an entire team. is year, as those same supply chain issues begin to ease, the trend for team socks is plain and simple — as long as athletes can pull up their socks and play ball with the proper colors to match their uniforms, then it's fair game. With options being so limited during the past few years, teams have been more likely to play it safe and not overcomplicate their sock orders to ensure they have a smoother experience outfitting their players than they did during the pandemic. "Teams are staying with stock socks. ey're choosing easy colors and are scared off from doing custom because of the last few years," reports Betsy Frey, owner of Holyoke Sporting Goods, Holyoke, MA. Although custom might be out of the equation, some dealers have seen teams order simple stock socks with a small level of detail. "We've been doing stock socks," says Teresa Martini, owner of Yours and Mine Sports, Modesto, CA. "Teams are not ordering as many custom socks, but are getting stock socks with stripes." However, in Michigan teams are more likely to stick to their reliable solid-colored socks for sports year-round. "We really only sell solid color tube socks for baseball, soball, soccer and football. ese orders would be placed from the athletic di- rector or coach at the time they are ordering equipment," says Jeff Reynolds, owner of Reynolds & Sons, Grand Rapids, MI. Suppliers Catch Up Where last year shipping delays caused inventory nightmares for team dealers every- where, this year it seems that suppliers have been able to catch up and fulfill most orders on schedule. Yet even with those improvements this year, dealers are still cautioning their teams to order early to ensure there are no last-minute delays. Teams that don't order on time may still experience issues with completing uniforms for their players. "It has been difficult to get stock in some inventory, especially if schools don't order early," says," says Todd Dunaway, owner of Sport & Cycle, Fortuna, CA. Often times newer coaches are the last ones to place their orders, which is why team dealers try to encourage them to place orders early so they can give themselves a buffer of two-to- three additional weeks. "We tell teams to place orders four weeks out to be on the safe side," says Martini. "eoretically, delivery should be smooth." Additionally, sometimes coaches forget about socks or treat them as an aerthought when ordering uniforms. With strict budgets from the school board, it's important for team dealers to recognize this to guarantee that teams are not le without one of the most important Designed for track spike and golf shoes, OS1st's Nekkid Comfort Socks are an invisible performance sock that doesn't slip down into athletes' shoe. OS1st's oval silicone heel grips to comfortably prevent slipping and has a specially constructed heel and light compression around the arch to prevent rubbing and blisters. "Socks are a performance opportunity, the same as shoes. Athletes can gain a com- petitive edge with socks that are made for their specific needs. For example, if an athlete suffers from heel pain they could be given a sock with targeted compres- sion, or, if they tend to sweat on the court, a cushion sock with ventilation, etc." — Josh Higgins, President 30 • Team Insight ~ May/June 2023 teaminsightmag.com

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