Wimpy Winter Forces 'No Snow' Sales

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Our lack of snow could be a good thing if you're looking for some cool winter deals.

In fact, some businesses are having "No Snow" sales. They're hoping to lure customers into the store with some rock bottom prices. And if that doesn't work, they can only hope Mother Nature does her thing and brings on the snow.

By this day last year, more than 60 inches of snow had fallen in the metro. There was an average 10 to 20 inches of snow on the ground. Today, there's nothing in the metro. And as a result, snowblowers sit in garages collecting dust -- as do the sets of skiis and skates. With 'no snow sales', local businesses are attempting to encourage and re-direct sales in a lackluster snow season.

Things are pretty slow at Gear West, in Long Lake, but they do have a sale, according to the Jan Guenther, the store's co-owner.

"We have everything that has to do with snow sale," Guenther said.

She said that selling winter sports gear has been difficult this year and that retailers are going to have to think differently when ordering stock next year.

The folks at Beisswenger's in New Brighton, Minn., are hoping customers see their big red sale sign.

"We need snow in order to bring customers into the store to purchase snow blowers, snow shovels, roof rakes," said Beisswenger's Bob Tack.

Both retailers are giving up on this winter. Instead they're looking to the future.

"It's had a definite impact on the business. Business is down: There's no two ways about it," Tack said.

With these wimpy winter sales, you could pick up some winter gear at a great price, and though our snowiest months in the Twin Cities are December and January, the third snowiest is March -- so that snowblower may get some use yet.