The local radio station here in Ely, MN recently held a contest of who could guess the day of ice-out on a nearby lake. Meanwhile, the geese out my window on the river have been waiting for weeks, walking around on the ice sparring each other for territory.
Perhaps their ice-out prediction was a bit optimistic. Nonetheless, Spring is in full swing and it is exciting to watch it happening right before our eyes as we were certain it would come.
Geese by the lake.
There are still a few lingering questions in my mind these days as we prepare our store and product lines for the summer tourism season and beyond. Will the tourism season in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area be a popular destination this summer? This is an important time of year for us, as we cater to many adventurers and casual customers alike during the busy summer season. It’s a time where we can visit in person with many of you, giving tours of our shop and visiting.
A summer display in our store.
One question I’ve been getting a lot is regarding how potential tariffs and this uncertainty will affect our small business. The answer is unknown and I honestly don’t lose much sleep over it. As a small business in America we have new challenges every year, and we take each day at a time. A bigger question in my mind is whether the mosquitoes will be ferocious this year or just a minor pest at sunset.
Today at Wintergreen HQ, members of the Wintergreen team gather outside in the Spring weather to help carry a large delivery of fabric rolls from the freight truck to our cutting room. I love seeing the teamwork and camaraderie of all pitching in to lend a hand.
A Boundary Waters Hooded Windshirt in progress.
Although we don’t know all the answers, we do know our cutting team will continue to deliver ready-to-sew bags of Anorak pieces to our sewing technicians upstairs, producing finished garments ready for delivery downstairs to the storefront for you to enjoy. That’s what we can control and it’s what keeps us going strong- believing in what we do. 
Our Production Manager & Head Designer at the Functional Fabric Fair.
I’m excited about some findings we had at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland this year. This video will give you an insight to that event if you are interested. Whether it was networking with other US manufacturers or discovering trending and rare fabrics alike, Kassie and Grace learned a lot and have our team poised to bring a few more exciting gems your way this year.
Lastly, thank you to those who responded to our pop-up trailer blog, suggesting events and locations for us to consider visiting. Stay tuned for more info on upcoming events and plans!
- Jackson
President, Wintergreen Northern Wear
