Think the only risky occupations belong to the likes of police and firefighters? Trying being a business owner like those in Flagstaff who cater to campers, hikers and snow enthusiasts.

Many of these merchants are required to buy seasonal items for their store nearly a year in advance, which means they must try to predict the future. Will there be nearby forest fires in the summer that will keep campers away? Will there be ample snow in the winter for ski areas to open? Will high gas prices keep visitors at home or a national disaster that discourages them from traveling? What about a shaky economy?

If only they had a crystal ball to consult.

“It’s more than risky business,” said Steve Chatinsky, owner of Peace Surplus, a full-service outdoor store that sells camping, outdoor and ski clothing and equipment and also offers ski rentals.

“In January, I am leaving on my first buying trip for next winter,” Chatinsky said.

During these trips, he buys 70 percent of the items he will need for the next year.

“I have to commit for everything to get the best deals,” he said. “Mind you, you don’t know what the winter is going to bring.”

He recalls one year when his business dropped a sudden 25 percent.

“We had a year of forest fires, a two-day ski season, along with 9/11 all in the same year. There was not much to do. I cut all the corners I could cut. After you do that, all you can do is try to hang on.”
Hang on he did, as he has for the past 35 years.

“Nobody pays me not to produce like the farming industry,” Chatinsky said.

Things seem to be looking up. Recent storms dropped multiple feet of snow on the slopes, allowing Snowbowl to officially open on Dec. 20.

“That means we will have a good December and a good January,” he said.

Even if there is enough snow, the current downturn in the economy is taking place at the worse time of the year for the $6 billion-a-year ski and snowboard industry. These businesses have only a few months to make most of the money needed to pump up their bottom lines. Skiers tend to be a little wealthier than the average American, but may be rethinking where they will go to ski this year. They may postpone a more lavish ski vacation at a plush resort and drive to a ski area closer to home, which could be good for the local merchants. Still, nothing is certain, but an uncertainty.

“It is very risky,” said Robbie Kerr, owner of First Chair Rental Shop in Flagstaff. “It is hard to forecast a season and being self-supporting, it is hard to let go of money not knowing if we are going to have a season or not.”

Because of the recent storms and the opening of ski areas, Kerr said he has started releasing some of his liquid assets buying gloves, pants, jackets and socks to sell.

“As long as Snowbowl is open, I am open,” he said. “The day the ski area closes, I close for the season. I am a seasonal business. I am completely dependent on Arizona Snowbowl.”

He said if he can open his shop before just before Christmas and run through New Years Day, he can make about 35 percent of his profits for the year. If the ski season lasts longer, so much the better.

“I gave up trying to predict the weather,” he said with a laugh.

He said he and a couple of partners started the business in 1998 and did not open the doors for two years because there was not enough snow for the ski areas to open. He bought out his partners about five years ago. When the ski season ends he travels to Alaska to do commercial fishing. In the summer, he turns the ski shop into a kite and flag store named Cloud Nine, the name of the fishing boat on which he fishes.

Jessica Makowske over at Mountain Sports in downtown Flagstaff said they just try to keep a positive attitude and act as if every season will be a good season because much of their business depends on the locals.

“Even if we don’t get a lot of snow, it still gets cold, so winter jackets are still a necessity.

“We believe in our customers and they will choose to shop local, when it comes to making purchases for those things. It’s not like they are up at Snowbowl and their hands are cold,” Makowske said. “I think people make their choices based on research and doing price comparisons.”

More information:

Peace Surplus: 928-779-4521
Mountain Sports: 928-226-2885
First Chair Rental Shop: 928-556-9096