Lloydminster – When the thermometer plunges, sales of warm clothes for work or play heat up at Northern Factory Workwear in Lloydminster and Saskatoon.
The two outlets have generated a loyal following of seasonal oilfield and construction clients for their selection of insulated and flame resistant or FR rated work safety clothing and thermal safety boots.
The stores owned by Neal Beznoska and his wife Pam also cater to families with leading brands of winter wear for children and adults for outdoor recreation
or casual wear.
“The cold weather just seems to bring people into the store to get all geared up for their jobs whether it’s the oilpatch or construction or just skidooing,” said Beznoska during a cold, snowy day in Lloydminster on Jan. 2.
Earlier in the day, Beznoska shoveled his store walkway wearing some of the products that fly off the shelves when a cold front settles in. “I had a Columbia jacket on with a Watson pair of gloves to keep me warm – with a Carhartt toque. The temperature wasn’t too bad,” he said despite it being -26 C and windy.
Cold days and snow are good for business at Northern Factory where the season got underway in mid November with the arrival of the first shock of Arctic air. “We really get stocked up for the cold weather. It happens every year,” said Beznoska.
“We’re not sure what part of the year it’s going to happen whether it’s November – October. You never can tell when the weather’s going to get cold.” Cold weather was the reason that Tyler Scott, a manager at Top Gun Energy Ltd. in Lloydminster provided to Pipeline News for his visit to the store that day.
He said he spends some of his time working outdoors. “I’m hands-on managing. We do a little bit everything. We check wells, we do some maintenance. We do some snowplowing. “It’s going to get way colder,” he warned.
Scott bought two pairs of Merrell casual hikers explaining those are “just good for everyday running around boots,” while adding he wears winter safety
boots on the job.
His company also buys a quantity of FR work clothing from Northern Factory that is selling a new line of Red Wing FR personal protection clothing this season.
“We just got in – first in Canada to get the Red Wing FR underwear – tops and bottoms,” said Beznoska.
“They have Red Wing rain jackets and bibs. We have some shirts and pants that came in. We’re expecting insulated FR products, parkas and bibs. “Shortly after that, we’ll have some Red Wing uninsulated coveralls.”
Northern Factory is the only independent Red Wing Shoes retailer in Canada to carry the new Red Wing FR clothing line.
“We helped them kind of develop it a bit. We had the executives come in for product testing and development,” said Beznoska.
“We had some product out in the local workforce around Lloyd to test the material and the products in these conditions, so we’ve really helped Red Wing develop it for our market with the reflective striping and all that.
“They allowed us to carry their product as the only independent non-branded Red Wing Shoes store.”
Another best selling item for oilfield and construction workers are winterized rubber work boots from Muck Boots Canada. The safety boots combine waterproof, flexible neoprene with 100 per cent virgin natural rubber that won’t crack or split in cold conditions.
“Last year they came out with their Arctic Pro Sport steel toe CSA, so now they have about four styles of CSA boots,” said Beznoska.
“The warmest one we have is the Arctic Pro which is the really cold weather work boot. We seem to have to order it about every couple of weeks.
“It’s been flying off the shelf. It’s the comfort – the quality. They have a really good fit. They are light and they are breathable for a rubber boot.” The demand is also strong for wireless heated insoles with an embedded battery that can be operated by remote control.
“That’s been a really good seller. They’re good for skiing, hunting, skidooing and with the oilpatch you can put them in any work boot that has a removable
insole,” said Beznoska. The favourite boot for snowmobiling this year is the Baffin Pivot with the boa closure system that uses an aviation grade cable that ratchets the boot on tight so there are no laces required.
“Another popular item is the Columbia baselayer,” said Beznoska. “They use the Omni-tech heat technology. It’s a reflective technology that
keeps your body heat in. “There’s two different weights a mid weight and a heavy weight and that’s good for working or playing. As you get active it releases heat through vents. “It’s a newer technology for keeping you dry and warm.”
Northern Factory also carries industry leading baselayer products by Helly Hansen made from moisture wicking polypropylene. Both outlets also sell a range of Helly Hansen non-FR underwear and FR underwear and accessories such as socks, toques, mitts and glove.
When it comes to dressing for the cold, few workers know how to do it better than pipefitter Loren Patenuade from Lloydminster. “I am pretty seasoned, ya,” he said about how to stay warm in winter. “I’ve worked in the oilpatch for about eight years now. I worked oil rigs before and did facility building up in Peace River.
“I’ve got nice winter boots. I’ve got Baffin boots and a good pair of Dakotas.” He bought the Baffins at Northern Factory where the early January cold snap brought him in to buy some bibs and warm outwear.
Patenaude works for Lincoln County Oilfield Services, a leading provider of pipeline and facilities construction services within northern Alberta and northeastern
British Columbia. “We do oilfield construction of SAGD facilities. Right now we are at facilities out of Bonnyville for Pengrowth,” he said.
He said some of that work is indoors but noted, “We’re usually inside so it’s pretty good.” Fortunately for Northern Factory especially in Lloydminster, the low price of oil and the slowdown in oilfield services have had little effect on store sales so far.
“You still see the oilpatch around here going pretty good. We’ve seen this before,” said Beznoska. “It’s not if it’s going to happen; it’s when it’s going to happen – a little
bit of a price adjustment but I am sure it’s not going to last too long. “There’s still people who have to work outside whether it’s construction, in the oilpatch or just even
skidooing.”
Business at the Saskatoon is driven more by construction, potash mining and farming than by the oil sector.
“The oilpatch is a good part of our business, but we’re diversified and we can suit pretty much anybody who needs to be warm,” said Beznoska about the Lloyd market.
“We’ve brought in a lot of Columbia casual parkas and down filled jackets for men and ladies and they’ve had a really good response. They’ve sold really well. That’s
one of the lines we’ve expanded over the last year.”
Northern Factory has also added a new four headed embroidery machine to its growing promotional and embroidery department in Lloydminster catering to oilfield workers.
“We keep the inventory for companies here. Employees will come in and get fitted for coveralls or parkas. They go upstairs and get their name and company logo put on,” explained Beznoska. “It’s a quick turnaround high quality and we have the newest and greatest equipment technology.”
