Retailers Ready for the Return of Football Season

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – Gamecock fans packed Columbia bars Thursday night, ready to cheer on their team and start the season off with a win. The fans weren’t the only ones ready for the return of Gamecock football. “I woke up this morning, I said, we’ve got to get our garnet and black on… it’s football season,” says Black and Garnet Manager Leland Morrison. The start of Football season means tailgating for fans and the busiest time of year for retailers who specialize in Gamecock gear. According to Caroline Johnson, owner of Miss Cocky,”We kind of say in our business that it’s feast or famine, during football season it’s feast. We stay busy, we have employees working before we open until after we close when it’s not football season it’s a little bit of famine” Even though the season means longer hours for businesses, they welcome the work as it boost their bottom line. Leland tells ABC Columbia,”We actually love football season because it helps with business as well. It gets pretty crazy in here, especially home games.” Despite last seasons lackluster outcome store owners say that fans are enthusiastic and optimistic about the teams chances this year, which is helpful for business. “They’re very loyal. They’re going to shop and they love their gamecocks and if it’s garnet they’re going to buy it and show up in their colors,” says Johnson. According to retailers, it’s that loyalty and dedication that separates gamecock fans from all the rest. Morrison says,”Carolina football, just the pride you take in your school and the pride that you’re a life long fan and that’s really what builds around all these customers, is we’re all life long fans, the employees here are lifelong fans and that’s what we’re all about.”