Snowstorm’s financial effects on local business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Blake Wilson

 

The latest snowstorm cost Windsor $500,000 in snow removal services, but some local businesses were also affected by the storm.

The sounds of scraping shovels, revving engines of snow blowers, snow plows and salt trucks wrung through the city beginning Sunday night.

Mountains of snow were piled up everywhere and snow banks lined the streets. The storm caught some citizens off guard who weren’t prepared.

The ones not prepared for the storm were blocked-in and unable to reach places of business that sell the equipment needed to clear away the snow. The irony was not lost on some business owners whose sales were also affected.

Brian, the sales manager at Canada Salvage said that some employees were snowed in and couldn’t make it to work.

“Because of the amount of snow, the store had one third less sales, but our seasonal department’s highest seller was snow shovels. We also had customers come to purchase copper piping because of frozen water lines. There was also a small increase in salt and gloves,” said Brian.

But not all businesses were negatively affected by the snow.

Lisa, a receptionist and dispatcher for Quinlan Inc. in Maidstone, said her company deals with 24 hour snow removal, plowing and salting.

“My guys have been working long hours very hard and trying to catch up on their sleep anticipating more snow,” said Lisa. “My duties are to keep things organized like the paperwork and keeping records of the workers log of snow.” The team worked by hand, with machines and whatever else was necessary.”

Quinlan Inc.’s clientele consists of parking lots, contract work, commercial, industrial and institutional as well as fire routes.

“Our increase in business is partly related to last year’s consistent snowfall. We had bookings from last year because clients were anticipating another year of the same.” Lisa said.

Meteorologists at Environment Canada said the amount of snow during the storm was 37 centimeters, breaking Windsor’s previous record of 13.4 centimeters in February of 2011.

Environment Canada cautions people that this may not be the end of the snow or the cold weather.