Got fashion talent with a malicious twist?
Opportunity stands open as a gap in the Seahawks defensive line.
If not now, then when for a Heehawks T-shirt? For a Seahacks cap?
How about for a turkey in the team’s trademark green and blues?
Nine games into the regular season, it seems the only bounce in store for the Seahawks could be when they crash to the bottom.
Ask Todd Clayton, owner of Athletes Choice, 215 W. First St., Port Angeles, if he sells Seahawks apparel.
“Yeah, we do,” he said Tuesday in the voice of a man contemplating a losing lottery ticket.
Ask how it’s selling, his answer is:
“Horrible. Do you have to ask?”
Most sports apparel retailers across the North Olympic Peninsula said the Seattle team’s apparel is about as hot as Matt Hasselbeck’s passing — worst in the NFL.
At Swain’s Outdoor in Port Townsend, things weren’t much better — and perhaps were worse for apparel featuring the University of Washington Huskies and Washington State University’s Cougars.
“This is a down year for football merchandise around the state,” said Richard Klatsky, manager of the store at 1121 Water St.
Brenda Thomas Gedlund at Forks Outfitters, 950 S. Forks Ave., said the store had trouble stocking Seahawks apparel because the NFL prefers to license outlets mostly at strictly sports clothing outlets.
“We do have the Seahawks baseball cap,” she said.
“It’s not flying off the shelves.”
Seahawks fans around Sequim, however, seemed less affected by their team’s two wins against seven losses.
Sarah — a clerk who declined to give a last name — said Seahawks items were “doing fine” at J.C. Penney, 541 W. Washington St., Sequim.
College wear woeful too
Back in Port Angeles, Jack Little, men’s apparel buyer at Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St., said the team merchandise wasn’t moving well.
“I mean, you know things aren’t great with the Seahawks, are they?” he asked.
“You always have diehard fans, but it’s certainly not selling the way it does when they’re winning.”
Lean economic times don’t make for big sales either — especially apparel that costs twice the price of something unadorned by a team mascot.
“They’d rather just get a plain old T-shirt for half the cost,” Klatsky said in Port Townsend.
Still, Sunday brings the Seahawks another chance, even if they must play the Cardinals, and the holidays are coming for everyone.
“I have a couple-dozen T-shirts, a couple-dozen sweatshirts, a couple-dozen jackets,” said Clayton at Athletes Choice.
“We’ll move them out at Christmas.”
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Reporter Jim Casey can be reached at 360-417-3538 or at jim.casey@peninsuladailynews.com.
