Regina sports store prepares for last-minute shoppers

With only one full shopping weekend before Christmas, Western Cycle in Regina is anticipating a busy few days.

Co-owner Jeff Pachal said over the past two weeks there have been more people than ever coming into the store. Even the cold weather and snow haven’t kept people away.

“The last weekend before Christmas will always be your busiest,” Pachal said. “We’re expecting to be busy this weekend and into next week.”

Western Cycle is also offering online sales, which has given the sporting goods store a boost. Pachal said he’s found that most of the online shoppers are not local.

“They’re actually coast to coast, so lots of items going out to Quebec, Maritimes (and) Ontario,” he said.

Pachal said he believes it’s important to shop local because of the customer service shoppers can get when they stop at local businesses.

He said the local advantage means “seeing that face that you may see time after time and year after year, and building that rapport and that trust level.”

Even though there will be high traffic this weekend, Pachal said tere will also be a high energy level.

“People are in a really good mood right now. Haven’t really found any Christmas Scrooges around, so everyone has been excited to be out Christmas shopping,” he said.

He also shared what some of the best sellers are for this season.

“The Yeti drinkware and Yeti coolers are always one of our top sellers,” he said. “We are also probably one of the few stores in Canada that will actually have baseball equipment for 2023 in stock.”

That this means they are selling a lot of ball gloves and bats.

“Racks are as full as they’ve been through COVID, so it’s a great selection right now,” said Pachal.