Local businesses benefit from the Super Bowl
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As the 58th Super Bowl showdown in Las Vegas approaches, the Kansas City Chiefs' impending game sparks a surge in customers like never before.
The team's stellar performance has transformed stores into a magnet for fans nationwide, all demanding Chiefs merchandise.
"We have seen a huge influx in customers. Saturdays have never been this busy before," said Ava Dimeo, an employee at The Southern Rose.
The demand is not just limited to clothing; Jenna March, owner of Jenna March Bakes, said it has been difficult keeping up with the high demand for her Kansas City Chiefs-themed desserts.
"Order for this Super Bowl has far surpassed other years. I am a one-woman show, so I have been operating on very little sleep lately in order to prepare for the insane number of orders I have gotten," March said.
The demand is so high March created a waitlist.
"I am going to fulfill as many requests as possible, but I don't know if I will be able to keep up with the demand," March said.
Business owners collectively agree this year is unlike any other, attributing the unprecedented buzz to pop sensation Taylor Swift.
"I wasn't expecting there to be so much demand for Taylor Swift/Chiefs cookies, but it has been wildly popular," March said. "I would definitely say that there have been a lot of extra orders come through that I probably wouldn't have gotten if it weren't for Taylor."
The merger between Swifties and Chiefs Fans brings more opportunities for businesses.
"So that just brings in a lot of like, crossover. Like we'll have Travis and Taylor earrings, we'll have Travis and Taylor designs," said Dimeo. "It's almost as if the target audience is so much more broad now that it's Chief fans mixed with Taylor Swift fans."
The continuation of the businesses' success depends on whether the Chiefs can bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But, the convergence between the two fanbases transformed this year into an exciting chapter for local businesses.
"If we win the Super Bowl, I think that it won't die down for a hot minute," Dimeo said. "But if we lose the Super Bowl, then I feel like it'll die down a bit. But we'll have customers come in and buy like Travis and Taylor stuff."
