Dec 22, 2008 9:02 pm US/Central
No Business Like Snow Business, Finally
(WCCO)
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After a string of slow seasons when some independent snow plow drivers got out of the business, this year's regular snowfalls are making it worth it for those able to stick with it. (File)
AP
It makes for messy commutes and gets to be a pain to shovel but all this early season winter weather has those who count on it saying -- it's about time! Those same people are saying there's no business like snow business.
"I think it's fabulous. It's why I live in Minnesota, for the snow in the wintertime. We haven't had much of that," said Minneapolis resident Scott Anderson.
That's why businesses like Midwest Mountaineering are cashing in early this year.
"Because of the cold start of the season in November, and it's certainly continuing, our sales have not been down, they've been up," said Midwest Mountaineering Manager Rudi Hargheimer.
While downhill skiers and snowboarders get help from snow machines, in brown winters cross country lovers depend on Mother Nature.
"Our cross country ski sales are up 30 percent year to date," said Hargheimer.
That's just what Scott Anderson came here to find.
"First time in a long time," he said. "If we didn't have snow on the ground I wouldn't be out here looking."
One of the hottest sellers already this season is merino wool long underwear ranging from $60 to $90, but worth it in these subzero temperatures.
That frigid weather has plumbers and heating repair shops working around the clock to fix broken pipes and furnaces.
Snowmobiles sales are also finally getting back on track.
"The past half a dozen seasons the biggest snowfalls have always come later in the season," said Towsley Motor Sports sales manager Justin Ogg.
Little snow was leaving many snowmobilers high and dry, literally.
"It makes you wonder why you had a snowmobile cause time was so limited," Ogg said.
So for Towsley Motor Sports, this season's early flakes are like pennies from heaven.
"It's just really fantastic to see some excitement come back to the industry which has been lost over the last few years because of lackluster snowfalls," Ogg said.
After a string of slow seasons when some independent snow plow drivers got out of the business, this year's regular snowfalls are making it worth it for those able to stick with it.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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