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The quickly-changing seasons
January 23, 2011
By Mike Lange
I admit that I'm a Renys Department Store freak. When the flyer comes out, I usually head for the Pittsfield or Dexter store within a day or two.
Like all discount stores, Renys usually has a limited supply on clothing in popular sizes - like 38 by 30 gray corduroy slacks.
I've found plenty of 38 by 28 and 38 by 29 sizes. If the legs were longer my better half could simply cut and hem them.
But so far, all I've seen are too-short-models.
What really frosted my nuggets was my last trip to the Bangor Mall when I decided to bite the bullet and pay a premium
price for the same brand at another store. It wasn't chump change, either. We're talking $14.95 versus $24.95.
But guess what. The store had plenty of 38 by 28 and 38 by 29 slacks - but no 30's. My wife laughed. "Maybe you need to shrink."
Maybe, but one problem in addition to the short-legged pants is the short time frame in which to buy them.
By mid-February, when we're due for a round of below-zero weather, winter clothing at your local retailer will start
disappearing. Soon, you'll see racks of short-sleeved shirts, cargo shorts and lightweight golfing pants where Carhartt
jackets and Woolrich flannel shirts once hung.
So if you think its tough getting popular sizes for a 60-something male with a slight overhang on his waistline now,
wait until after Valentine's Day.
In a previous column, I joked about rushing the Christmas season. Around Halloween, I started seeing displays of lights,
plastic Santas and greeting cards sharing shelf space with pumpkins and witch costumes.
That's only casual observation about marketing. But taking warm clothing off the racks in 30-degree weather is a
potential problem. Ask any mom with growing kids or pot bellied grandfathers like me.
I used to lose gloves on a regular basis. They'd either drop out of my pockets or I'd carelessly leave them on
counters when I was retrieving my wallet. After going home with freezing fingers a few times, I learned to keep a spare pair in the Jeep.
But I tried to find some dress gloves at a few local department stores last March. No dice. They had plenty of work
gloves and several dozen pair of the $1.99 cloth models - which are great for weeding the garden in July - but the
leather gloves were either sold out or tucked away for the next winter.
So I'd suggest that if you want anything related to winter, get it now. Never assume that the major department
stores with headquarters in Michigan, Florida or Arkansas have a clue about Maine winters. Renys, bless 'em,
has their warehouse in Damariscotta.
I've gone to stock car races in April where the temperature was 70 degrees. I've also shoveled 16 inches of
snow off the deck in other Aprils.
Maybe the answer is to have a special clothing section marked New England Spring: cargo shorts, wool socks,
t-shirts and long johns.
Throw in some gray 38 by 30 corduroy slacks too - before I outgrow that size.
(Mike Lange is a semi-retired journalist who lives in St. Albans with his very patient wife, Ronda,
and very spoiled office cat, Basil. He can be reached at mdlange@roadrunner.com or via Facebook.)
Excerpt From: Madison Newspaper 2011
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R.H. Reny, Inc.
731 Route 1
Newcastle, Maine 04553
Phone: (207)563-3177
Fax: (207)563-5681
E-Mail: feedback@renys.com
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