Winter a curse and a blessing for business

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 by Sammie Clemmey

The city of Saratoga Springs, New York, has taken a hard hit economically this winter. Local boutique owner Emily Davis said, “Business for us has definitely been slower this winter. Even though we’re right on the main street not many people are willing to walk around in the cold and snow to shop for clothes.”

According to the National Weather Service, the snowfall for the winter of 2012-2013 was about 51 inches between December and March. However, so far this winter, Saratoga Springs has gathered a hefty total of about 78 inches, which is above the city’s snowfall average of about 70 inches.

Not all businesses in Saratoga Springs have been affected. Mr. Grady, business marketing teacher at Saratoga Springs High School, said, “Places like local ski mountains and hardware stores have been making a lot of money from the snow,” especially in their sales of “salt and snow shovels.”

Although Saratoga Springs is largely well-known for their summer season with SPAC and the racetrack, which attract thousands of tourists every year, winter months typically still tend to bring in many visitors. “Overall, this winter may have [affected business] a little bit,” Davis said, “but not enough to worry about. It’s certainly been a cold one. We just keep going on.”

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