Sales of black, puffy Columbia jackets jump 82% since indictment of former Ohio public utilities chief

Executives at Columbia Sportswear have been nothing but smiles this week after witnessing an 82-percent spike in sales of its black and puffy full-zip jackets. The timing of the sales boost, which has been most pronounced in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, directly coincides with the indictment of Sam Randazzo, the former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

According to body language experts, Randazzo's glum expression is likely due to his being charged with 11 felony indictments rather than any feeling of dissatisfaction with his black, puffy Columbia jacket.

Last week Randazzo, who has been charged with 11 counts of bribery and embezzlement, glumly walked into the US District Court in Cincinnati sporting the same Columbia jacket that has now become so popular.

“We couldn’t believe our stroke of good luck,” said Columbia CEO Timothy Boyle. “It’s not every day a customer marches into a courthouse facing 11 felony indictments while wearing your product. The images were so clear, and they’ve spread like wildfire. It would have been nice had he flashed a brief smile, but I won’t nitpick.”

It took only a few minutes after images of Randazzo’s very public walk of shame reached the internet for online sales of Columbia jackets to pick up. And things haven’t slowed down since, forcing some customers to be placed on back order until more of the jackets can be produced and shipped.

“I don’t mind waiting, so long as I can get my hands on one of those puffy Columbia jackets,” said Jamie Thompson of Beavercreek, Ohio. “I’ve been in the market for a winter coat for a while now but hadn’t pulled the trigger. After seeing that shady politician guy - Razzmatazz, I think his name was - and the way the sun danced off that sleek, water-resistant polyester, I knew I had found my next coat.

Randazzo is allegedly linked to the same scandal that brought down former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. Householder is currently serving 20 years in federal prison.

Big wigs at Columbia are hoping Randazzo does for them what Householder did for Carhartt. On the day of his arrest in July 2020, the former speaker emerged from the courthouse wearing what appeared to be a light gray XXXL Carhartt t-shirt. That single mid-summer day generated almost 40 percent of Carhartt’s revenue for the entire year.

Carhartt’s sales department was at first concerned the stains on Householder’s shirt might turn off potential customers. They couldn’t have been more wrong.

Other clothing brands are already looking to capitalize on the next Ohio political scandal that could drive their sales into the stratosphere. Lobbyists for L.L. Bean, The North Face and Duluth Trading Company have been spotted on Capitol Square in search of elected officeholders they think look most prone to corruption.

“I wouldn’t say I’m hoping for politicians to commit crimes,” said Sam Sato, President of Duluth Trading. “But if they do, I sure hope they’re sporting our logo when the feds come knocking.”