About 10 years ago, we {for some unknown reason} decided to spend Christmas week in Vail and Aspen, where our kids lived and worked. It was impossible for them to get more than a few days off, and fly East. So we, despite their saying “DON’T!” went to see them and visit more family.
Our son was begged to help out in the backroom of one of the big shops, mounting and prepping skis. He’s a coach. Knows what he is doing and money always “works.” We had plans to meet up, at the shop. He asks us to give him 15 minutes. So, we hang out.
And we see three generations of a South American family, being attended to by 2-3 sales people, buying very high end everything. I think the youngest grandchild was about 6. About 12-14 people.
Think about the very best, most “high end” base layers and socks, then work on out. Mid layers, a lot of Kjus, Arcteryx. Spyder for the little kids, Bogner for the ladies. Everybody got a helmet, hats, everybody got high end goggles. They bought A LOT of Hestra and Reusch mitts and gloves. Patagonia neck ups. Dermatone. You name it.
So our son takes more like a half hour to wrap up. Turns out that he was installing boot heaters in the new boots that Grandma bought for all. 12-14 pairs.
As we left, Grandma thanked him, very genuinelyfor his help, and tipped him a crisp $100 bill. Which she did to everybody who “helped.”
Our son said that his buddies on the benches were mounting a new pair of Kastles, which were the rage then, for every one of them. Doing very quick “tunes”. Two days later our son told us that one of his friends said Grandma spent a bit more than $50K with her black card.
The line that was most interesting was: “This year, we will fly home with MOST of this, as we have a newer, bigger, plane. Last year we left it here to be donated to those who need it…”
The large whales spend. Gross as it is, very good for business. And nobody was arguing on choices. Yep, they all Need Kastle and LEKI. Must have. I DO think they listened about boots. Maybe.
Very interesting to observe. Crazy.
