DEB ZEMLOCK

Regatta Merchandise

ATLANTA ROWING CLUB, Alpharetta, GA

The Hooch is like a giant symphony coming together.

How did you get started with rowing and the Hooch?

I started in Learn to Row at the club (Atlanta Rowing Club, ARC) in 1988 when the club was really small, which officially makes me one of the old guard. I worked my first Hooch that same year. Back then the Hooch was right there in Roswell at our backdoor, so if you were part of the club you were involved in the Hooch. I raced my first Head of the Hooch in ’89; I can still remember I gave it my all, and could barely get out of the boat at the dock after. I rowed in a lot of the Hooch regattas until about 10 years ago.

Over the years, I’ve worked docks (in/out), weigh-in tent, boat traffic flow, finish line timing and bus parking – which did not suit my personality because I am not assertive enough.

In the 2010s, I started pretty consistently working in the merchandise tent.

In 2019, I worked with an outside marketing consultant to really formalize the Head of the Hooch brand and logo. Until this point, the logo changed pretty often and we had nothing set in stone. The new brand was launched in 2021.

What does Merchandising do?

For many years, we had a member of ARC who had a promotional goods company, and handled all our merchandise product design, ordering and tent set-up. The typical role for a merchandise tent volunteer then was to sell that merchandise during the event. In 2017, Amber Ostrej (also with ARC) and I changed how merchandising had previously been done. We opened it up to outside bids, selected a vendor, negotiated a multi-year contract, and worked with them on the merchandise designs. Since that time, we have continued to handle our merchandise that way. As a result, lots of time is spent in planning, coordinating, selecting and designing products, and making sure everything comes together in time. I enjoy all this background work more than actually working sales in the tent.

As of last year, we again are having our volunteers staff the merchandise tent to help handle set-up, stocking and sales. It’s a fast-paced but fun job, and a great way to meet and connect with people.

Favorite part of the Hooch?

Being part of such a large volunteer undertaking is an amazing experience. Seeing so many good people dedicate so much time and effort, year after year – that’s really incredible to me. It’s like a giant symphony coming together.

Also just being there is very inspiring. When you start to see the trailers coming in with the boats, the oars laid out on the shoreline, all these athletic people walking around with a common interest that you share – it really jazzes me and gets my adrenaline pumping. It’s just super exciting to be a part of it.

Any pre or post Hooch rituals?

Not really. It’s such a frenzy getting it all pulled together, then by the time you stop, it’s over. A couple weeks after the regatta, we start planning for the next year.

What has rowing meant to you in your life?

It’s mostly meant friends. I’ve met some of my dearest friends through rowing, many when I first joined ARC in the late 80’s, and we are still good friends and rowing buddies today. It’s remarkable to grow older (not old!) together with others who share a common interest.

Also, with rowing you can be in the middle of a mental frenzy, and you go out on the water and all that goes away. It’s just great! Nothing else like it.

Big changes of the last few years or upcoming changes to look forward to?

Every year we try to up the ante on what you can expect with merchandise. We’ve got some exciting changes this year, but it’s a secret until the Hooch is up and running. So come visit us at the merchandise tent during the Hooch.

Final comments?

Don’t miss out on participating in the Hooch – whether you’re competing or volunteering, or hopefully both. Yes, it is a bit of a hassle to drive from Atlanta. If you want to stay overnight, it costs money. But if you don’t experience that spectacle and the camaraderie, it’s just sad. So, don’t miss it! Come be part of the Hooch.