Warm January has business in limbo

MILFORD - Our recent unprecedented warm weather is either a disaster or a blessing for local area businesses and consumers. It all depends on which side of the cash register you’re on. Clayton Harper owner of Action Outfitters, whose place of business was recently destroyed by fire, has moved to a temporary new location on U.S. Route 6/209. Harper has mixed feelings about the unseasonably warm weather. “It’s sort of a sob story but we are doing just okay. I’ve sold more bikes and skateboards than ever before for this time of year but sales of snow boards, ski boots, and outer wear are a disaster,” he said. With the warm weather, the only ski area that is open is Jack Frost Big Boulder out towards Scranton, said Harper. Action Outfitters shelves were stocked with plenty of winter outerwear and Harper said everything is on sale with discounts as high as 50 percent. “I have to move merchandise so sale prices are good for the consumers,” Harper said. “I would like more business now but last year with all the snow we had at this time of year carries me through this slow period. Business runs in cycles and when your business depends on weather you just have to accept what you get.” The business will relocate to Milford Borough around Presidents Day and will be having a sale with discounts when they make the move. “On the plus side I get to ride my bike every day and all my bike enthusiast customers do the same,” remarked Harper. Nearby Luhr’s Hardware is usually stocked high with skids full of rock salt and snow melt, but only had a few skids of product on display. Snow blowers and snow shovels which generally fill the center area of the store this time of year had a presence that mimicked some time in late March or early April. “A business like Luhr’s depends on the changes of season for high retail sales. This year has been very slow,” Matt Osterberg, store manager, told the Courier. “When we have weather like this no one wants to do anything because they don’t know what to expect and so they do nothing but wait. This hurts sales,” Osterberg said. Asked about the low winter inventory on hand and what he will do if we get a sudden change in weather, Osterberg said, “We get weekly deliveries so it is not a problem. If it starts snowing real badly I can get product from my sources on very short notice.” Osterberg said he would usually have greater stock on hand of winter items but indicated that sales of warm weather items such as paint and home repair supplies are higher than usual for this time of year. At the Velveteen Habit on Harford Street in Milford, manager Stephanie Hearon had a different view of the warm weather and business. “I’m not sure if it was the weather or the economy, but our holiday business was slower this year than last. I just think that people have less money to spend, even when the weather is warm,” Hearon said.