Businesses prepping for all the season brings

Businesses are prepping for the season.

Stores in Clovis and Portales, from hardware to novelty to consignment, are getting ready for customers as they prepare for the winter weather.

“We’ve got our shovels ready; we hope we don’t have another Goliath,” said Tankersley’s Owner Paul Tankersley, in reference to last December’s winter storm that essentially shut down eastern New Mexico for three days and rung up more than $150,000 in taxpayer costs.

Tankersley said he had two customers on Monday shopping for warm clothes to prepare for winter.

“We sell winter coats. More people are looking at them since the last cold spell (this past weekend),” said Tankersley.

Because of last year’s snow storm, Tankersley said he is well-stocked in case another storm happens.

“We buy winter in the spring and buy spring in the winter,” said Tankersley. “We’re ready for it. We hope that we don’t have a lot of snows. We’re in good shape.”

Bob Vilandry, owner of Bullet Bob Has It in Clovis, said he sees more interest in biker helmets this time of year, but added there are no major changes in terms of what is purchased at the collectibles store.

“It actually stays fairly consistent,” said Vilandry. “If you’re coming in looking for a coat, you’ll want something a little vintage.”

For Prairie Road’s Junqtique, the winter season calls for holiday novelties.

“We have just general Christmas decor. Handmade signs and pre-decorated trees, vintage Christmas ornaments,” said owner Shane Grah. “They sell pretty well.”

Portales Hardware owner Don Sena said his store keeps snow shovels, heat lamps and wood pallets handy.

“We try to keep our pipe fittings a little more stacked during the winter,” said Sena. “Insulation, we stock up on more. Snow shovels — we sell a lot more during the winter.”

Sena said he makes sure residents are prepared to tackle the snowy weather as it comes along.

“When it’s snowy weather, they’re (customers) in there early trying to get their snow melt,” said Sena. “If they need something delivered, we try to help them out. When you’ve got a dairy, they need parts at three or four in the morning. We make after-hour calls too. That storm that we had last year, we’re just stacked a little heavier this year.”

Consigning Women Manager Debbie Martinez said staff stays busy collecting and selling items, but there is no change in trend this time of year.

“Coats will sell for a little while,” said Martinez. “It’ll kind of slow down because they already got their coat. Anyone that comes in, we try and help them as best as we can.”