By Diane Crosby

Our store is in what people call the “Deep South.” These are the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas and South Carolina, with parts of other states included, as well. We deep southerners do not really understand what the rest of the country endures when it comes to winter. For instance, in Georgia where we live and work, the average winter temperature runs between 50-55 degrees. To some of you northerners, that probably sounds downright balmy.

The often-quoted late Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard once spent some time working in Chicago. He said, “Chicago has two seasons – winter and the Fourth of July.” A similar but opposite weather summary could be given for the south. The Deep South has two seasons – summer and that one week of January when arctic weather unexpectedly arrives. Southern winter precipitation, most often, consists of rain/sleet mix. We get a little excited when some of our precip bounces off the hood of the car.

Therefore, rare things here include snowmen, ice on trees and snow that sticks after the sun comes up. Most of us are so incredibly excited when we do see snow that school lets out and work stops. We do not function well with snow on roads. Things we really don’t see at all include snowplows, snow shovels and horse-drawn sleighs. I never recall a white Christmas, though we did have a white day-after-Christmas once.

So, this is my list for making preparations in the store for winter:

  1. Swap out shorts on the rack for coats.
  2. Make sure we have some beanies.

And that is it. Of course, we plan for holidays with decorations, but there is extraordinarily little to do when it comes to merchandising. We still keep our short-sleeved shirts front and center, because many people would rather have a coat and a short-sleeved shirt. In fact, it is quite common to see people here dressed year-round in shorts, though in winter, they add a jacket to the ensemble. Some years we put the previous season’s items on sale, but usually we just store them away until warm weather rolls around again, which isn’t long for us.

The best part about winter weather here is the welcomed relief from summer’s brutal heat. We have been known to have stretches of one hundred-plus degree heat with the accompanying Georgia humidity. Saunas and steam rooms may be fun, but it is no treat to live in one. We are also accustomed to providing long-sleeved garments in the summer for those who must work inside in the air conditioning. The Deep South can be topsy turvy with cold and hot.

We must, however, consider those who find themselves working outside during our occasional cold spells. We call it cold when pipes threaten to freeze and there’s ice in the driveway. Temps in the low teens can occur here, though they don’t usually last more than a few days. Because so many of us are unprepared for freezing weather, we layer what we have and complain loudly, forgetting how much we moaned about the heat just months ago.

We do keep gloves, some wool socks, long underwear, balaclavas and the aforementioned beanies and coats on our shelves. We don’t want our customers to suffer needlessly. Still, we don’t stock too deeply in these products. A smart choice for a tactical store in the south would be the three-season jackets or those with removable liners. While officers may rarely wear the entire jacket, they may find the parts worn separately to meet most of their needs.

One concession we make is by posting a warm, welcoming message on the marquee outside our store. “Come in away from the cold. It’s warm inside.” For those in the south, this rings true. Because we are so unaccustomed to cold temperatures, we do think it is cold. Even in the twenties and thirties, we think we’re freezing, because we never experience negative degrees.

Our biggest chore for the approaching winter usually revolves around holiday prep. We make sure we have items on hand customers will want for Christmas shopping. We post deadlines for special orders, especially for massive quantities. Nothing says Christmas rush like a department chief coming in on Christmas Eve looking for thirty matching gifts for the crew. 

Some years back, we began delivering edible thank you gifts to departments in our area. That has grown to sending something shareable to our largest customers, a number that means buying eighty-plus mailable treats. This, too, is a winter prep task that must start in the fall. Choosing and ordering the product or products, making sure packaging is on hand and getting a list of recipients all take times to accomplish on top of our regular duties. 

Just to make sure I wasn’t forgetting any winter-related arrangements we make here in the Deep South, I asked our staff. “Did you mention beanies?” was Debbie’s response. Ramona reminded me that thinner jackets and long sleeves are the usual winter attire here, but that when we do have the super cold spells, customers come in and buy every cold-weather product we have. Liz said good coats, gloves and hats are staples. Lance said to stock up on hoodies.

Some decades ago, my spouse and I went to visit friends in Wisconsin for a winter holiday. We cross-country skied, downhill skied and ice skated on a lake. Nearby, we saw children practicing hockey outdoors. So, I do believe that the country has its share of real winter! To be honest, I would enjoy a little more winter than we get. I will be satisfied with doing some winter travel in the future and being thankful that when I come home, it will likely be 50 degrees!

Diane and Wiley Crosby own Red Dog Outfitters in Forsyth, Georgia, where winter is usually mild, and snow is a welcomed treat!