Interview: The City Garage
Interview: The City Garage
Interview with: Trey Clauss, Store Manager
What’s new in the shop this year?
It’s all about the GEAR! The ski boot world has been taken over by BOA. Putting on ski boots is going to sound a little different this year. If you haven’t heard or seen BOA, then you’ve been living under a rock for the past 15 years. BOA has partnered with specific boot companies to offer a new fit option for ski boots. Removing the lower 2 buckles and replacing them with the patented “BOA knob”. We have Salomon and K2 boots with BOA. On the ski wall this year we have the goods! Especially the best goods you can buy in the ski industry. Stöckli, the Swiss ski brand has been making the highest quality ski for some time now. We started our partnership last season to get the skis on the main stage at our shop. This season we have added more models!
Do you have a personal favorite brand or piece of equipment?
That’s a tough one! Having picked most of the products in the shop, it’s hard to have a lone favorite. I’d say the piece of equipment I am most excited about is our new Podoscope from Boot Doc. This is our new foot analysis device that shows not only us, but most importantly the customer the shape of their foot and how their foot sits in a ski boot. We have the ability to make the boot fitting process much more precise and efficient. Engaging the customer makes them feel more at ease about putting 2 pieces of plastic on their feet!
Can you give us a look into your winter services offered? What can customers expect renting through The City Garage?
Customer service is #1! Generally speaking, if it has something to do with skiing, we can handle it! Offering a full service repair and installation shop powered by Wintersteiger Tuning Machines, we can completely overhaul skis to that factory finish! Moving upstairs, we turn the focus onto your FEET! If your feet aren’t happy, ain’t nobody gonna be happy! We have partnered with BootDoc ski boot fitting to offer a seamless fitting experience. We are the only fully stocked Telemark Ski shop in the east. (Telemark skiing has been cultivated by our staff and customers over the past 20 years.) We offer a full rental lineup for daily rental and junior seasonal leases. With telemark rentals comes cross country and snowshoe daily rentals. We also offer daily hi-performance demo skis!
With 24 years in business, what’s it like keeping up with the trends and sticking to the City Garage vibe you’re so well known for?
With those 24 years of having the doors open, we have seen plenty of brands come and go; unfortunately some that probably could have done great things. We have always tried to align with smaller companies that have the same core values, knowing that we will be 100% behind their brand if they are the same to us. Having an “exclusive” brand to our store means the most. Knowing that we are the sole provider gives us the confidence to grow the brand! As soon as you open the door to the CG you’ll know you’re in the right place.
What’s it like running year-round and switching into the anticipated winter season?
Having the doors open year round makes things a little more challenging to switch into winter; we have to be a bit more precise with our flipping of the switch. It seems like the entire retail world likes to make the change earlier and earlier each year! Thankfully our summer merchandise is much lighter and more breathable compared to winter! Many of our winter brands transition to summer apparel with us, so we keep the support rolling year round.
What’s the inventory looking like this season?
It seems like every year is like a box of chocolates. I’m a firm believer the ski industry has eased off the gas a bit after covid. With that being said, it makes our jobs of managing inventory a bit more precise. You can’t rely on every manufacturer to have every item in stock throughout the season. Our suggestion is if you are thinking about it, there’s a good chance someone else is too! We pride ourselves on being a “specialty” retailer, meaning what we have is what you won’t find in many other stores. Often times people will seek out the hard-to-find! Get in early and get the goods!
Are there any winter events The City Garage is involved in or looking forward to?
With the anticipation building every week, getting closer to that first breath of winter air and getting out to ski, we are happy to announce our annual Movie Night at the Ellicottville Depot on November 4, 2023. This year we will be pulling off a double header - from Line Skis and Faction Skis! Line Skis has put together a short film from their athletes’ season of skiing around the world, highlighting many of the same skis we sell in the store! Faction Ski Co & Red Bull Media collaborate every 2 years to bring together a full-length feature film. This year’s film is called ABSTRACT. We will kick things off roughly at 6:00pm. FREE event! RAFFLES! And you can’t forget the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway! Look at our “social” for more info!
What do you look most forward to once snow covers the slopes?
Here’s to IT! We need a good shot in the arm of winter this year. Being a skier in western NY is like being a Buffalo Bills fan… it keeps you on the edge of your seat! We’re looking forward to keeping those smiles big and having good times with friends on the slopes. Every winter is a gift; don’t let it pass you by!