Okotoks shoppers are a hardy bunch. Weeks of snow and frigid temperatures may have slowed them down, but it hasn’t kept them huddling in their homes, say local business owners.
However, Donna Pavka, owner of Celadonna in downtown Okotoks, said it has been noticeably slower with the cold weather.
As her business started to feel the effects of the cold weather, Pavka said she knew she had to do something to entice shoppers to her kitchen store. When the mercury plunged on Feb. 24, she put out a sign saying it was plus 25 degrees in her store. It ended up being a good day for the business.
“That was the first day I thought I had to come up with something,” said Pavka.
According to Pavka, her regular customers have continued to shop regardless of the weather, but the cold temperatures have frozen out the browsers and impulse buyers.
Monkey Mountain Toys owner Aileen Lamontagne admitted it’s been hit and miss during the cold spell, but the weather hasn’t resulted in any significant dips in business.
“There’s been the odd quiet day,” she said.
In fact, Lamontagne said a lot of people are preparing for spring and buying toys for the warmer weather sure to come.
She said people don’t want to have to go too far when the temperatures dip and many are choosing to shop locally rather than drive to Calgary.
“The cold is keeping people in town,” said Lamontagne.
The gelato hasn’t been a big seller at Figaro’s Gelateria, but the hot chocolate and fine coffees are a little more attractive when the mercury drops.
Figaro’s Gelateria owner Hendrik van Wyk said his sales can go hot and cold with the weather.
“I can plot my sales according to the temperature,” he said.
With his businesses located outside the main core of downtown, van Wyk said his customers have to make the effort to go to his store and he sees more people when the temperatures go up.
He is finding other unique items to stock and other ways to attract customers. Van Wyk recently started making his own nougat to sell with coffee, which has proven popular.
He also started posting his fresh gelato offerings on Facebook and Twitter and if it’s something people want, van Wyk said they will come out regardless of the weather.
Yes, the gelato wasn’t a big seller on colder days. However, van Wyk said it hasn’t stopped people from buying full containers to take home.
Dave Heron, owner of Pace Setter Travel, has done brisk business helping people escape to warmer climates.
“There’s no question people are fed up with the length, thus far, of winter,” he said. “The phones are relatively active with people looking to get away for anywhere from four days to a week to something warm.”
It’s something Heron understand well. He just returned from an extended African safari in Tanzania and Kenya and faced a 70-degree change in temperatures in one day when he arrived back in Alberta.
Heron said this is typically a busy time of year to begin with, however, when the weather stays cold for extended periods of time, he said people are more willing to book a trip at the drop of a hat.
“You wind up with a little bit of a spike in bookings to get away within a week,” he said.
In the end, it may be good for business, but he said he wants winter to take a hike of its own.
“As much as I love the increased business, by god please warm up soon,” he said.
