Retailers selling Flyers and 76ers apparel and merchandise are “seeing a surge in sales in recent weeks” as both teams have advanced into the second round of their respective playoffs, according to John George of the PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL. John Ruggiero, one of the owners of Jackets n’ Things in the Philadelphia suburb of Ambler, estimated that sales of Flyers merchandise — “largely jerseys, T-shirts and hats — are up 50% and Sixers merchandise is up about 10%.” Ed Smith, owner of Lloyd Sixsmith Sporting Goods, said that sales at his Frankford Avenue store in Northeast Philadelphia are “up 20% in the past week.” Smith: “It’s almost like the fan base was caught off guard. Fans really didn’t expect the Sixers to beat the Celtics or the Flyers to even be in the playoffs. It was kind of a late bloom in the season for both teams to make the playoffs, but we’re certainly getting increased sales.” Carlos Delgado, a retail sales associate at Mitchell & Ness’s flagship Center City location, said that sales are “up for both teams over the last two weeks.” Robert LaBoy Jr., team sales leader at Rally House in Center City, said that the store has had a “tough time keeping Flyers and Sixers jerseys in stock.” LaBoy: “We get 30 to 50 boxes daily Monday through Friday, and by the end of the day most of it is gone” (PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/5).
