Thanks to the success this season of the New Orleans Saints, Teche Area businesses have experienced a surge in Saints-related merchandise sales.

Yet, businesses catering to Saints fans also have been left scrambling to refill empty shelves and clothing racks to meet the ongoing demand for Saints’ gear following Sunday night’s NFC Championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings. New Orleans ended the visitors’ season, 31-28, in overtime.

“T-shirt” Jerry Moshier, a Florida native who has set up shop on Admiral Doyle Drive across from the Sonic, said business has been steady since he first opened more than a week ago. Last Thursday evening, Moshier said, “it was nuts out here with people who wanted kids’ shirts, as soon as the they hit the table, they were gone.”

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Holiday Sporting Goods associate Michelle Suire said since opening for business Monday morning, the store has received non-stop calls from Saints fans searching for coveted NFC Championship shirts.

“They’ve been calling for the championship shirts, but we can’t find anyone that has them,” Suire said.

Suire said although Holiday Sporting Goods will not have the NFC Championship shirts, they do expect to replenish their stock of Saints merchandise in time for the Super Bowl.

Currently, Hibbett Sports is the only New Iberia store with the championship shirts in stock.

“We just opened and it’s been non-stop with customers purchasing them,” store manager Sharette White said.

Ava Richard, one of many customers waiting in line at Hibbett Sports Monday morning, said she awoke and immediately began her search to find three championship shirts for her husband, son and herself.

“I went to Holiday and Lipari and they weren’t ready, so I tried my luck here,” Richard said.

Bangles, Baskets, and Scents owner Rhonda Landry also has had trouble keeping Saints’ merchandise. The shelves of Landry’s boutique hold a range of Saints items that include wine and pilsner glasses, beads, coozies, volatile sandals and shirts.

“During Christmas, I couldn’t keep any Saints’ merchandise, and I’m kind of low now with only two Saints’ shirts left,” Landry said.

The demand for Saints’ gear also has extended to the local food industry. The morning following the Saints’ championship victory, Bi-Lo Super Market had only one package of Saints’ cupcakes remaining on its bakery shelves.

Bi-Lo associate Wendy Hadaway said early Sunday morning she and store owner Roxie Boudreaux worked together in preparation for the evening’s game to make Saints’ helmet-shaped cookie cakes, black and gold king cakes and cupcakes. Hadaway said they had sold out of all their Saints’ cookie cakes and king cakes by the time the game started Sunday evening.

“This case was filled yesterday morning,” Hadaway said, pointing to the empty bakery show case, “but the week before the Super Bowl, we’ll have this case rockin’ with Saints-baked items.”