TRAVERSE CITY - Northern Michigan has had a lot more snow this year than the past couple years and places like Traverse City run on prime weather for tourism. With the more snow businesses are seeing more customers.
“So last couple of years we haven’t had as much snow. So items like large winter jackets or like skis, snowshoes, they really haven’t moved very well, shares Ethan Goss from Backcountry North, “So this year we’ve definitely seen an uptick in those types of sales.
Boyne country sports in downtown traverse city has also seen an increase in business
“I think last year everybody really wanted to ski because northern Michigan in the winter, your options are limited for outdoor activities. I would say last year we people really want to get out. Nordic skiing, still downhill skiing. But the snow quality this year has just been there, so we sell a lot more product,” explains Patrick Monahan, Sales Rep.”
Traverse City’s economy thrives on snow in the winter and Amy Caminata from Greater North Power Sports and Rentals shares how snow affects their business.
“We definitely tripled our rentals from last year to this year due to having snow. Last year was horrible because we had no snow.”
Caminata says when snow is on the radar their phone starts to ring
“They are super excited. So what’s wild is when it snows, that phone rings. So they’re calling when they know there’s snow coming or falling at the same time they call.”
Caminata also shares that snow isn’t just a bonus for their snow-mobile rental business
“Not only, you know, first time renters, they get to experience the snowmobile industry also with other companies being able to, accommodate them with rooms and also eating out.”
Ethan Goss from backcountry north says it’s nice to sell products people will get to use.
“I’m a Nordic ski coach outside of this, and it’s nice to actually be able to say, hey, this is what we do here. This is why we do it, and this is why you need these products to make it a better experience and actually be able to show that, hey, we do have this type of weather. You know, it makes you feel better to sell something that somebody actually needs rather than they hope they might need at some point.”