subject: Is Shopping Affected By Weather [print this page] Tourist or not, when youre just a few feet away from a shopping mall it can be hard to resist checking out a few stores. As any shopper will admit, its often difficult to draw the line between simple window shopping and actual shopping, and its rare for something to stand between a determined shopper and their goal. Adverse weather rarely comes into play.
Many blame the wet 2012 European weather season for lagging growth, including major industries like mining, insurance, sportswear and equipment manufacturing The wet weather has got some of the above categories complaining while others like agricultural companies, online retail portals and tourism of places with excellent weather are reaping the benefits of the skys mood-swings. So is weather really affecting shopping?
Yes and no.
Yes but its not just Weather
Wet weather, heavy snowfall and hailstorms often cause access difficulties. Physical shopping arenas certainly add some goodwill by assuming responsibility to issue bad weather warnings and announcements, as was the case with Newcastle shopping arcades. In June of 2012, the Newcastle weather pattern took a T-storm turn which led to unprecedented flooding and clean-up tasks, forcing many stores to close at the famous Eldon Square and Metro-centre. But difficult weather has led to the bloom of online retail. With increasing consumer satisfaction due to prompt home deliveries and high product quality, the online shopping scenario can be expected to cover more categories of products.
But the shopping experience of trying out products and services, taking breaks at coffee shops with friends, and dinner with family are all avenues of shopping that online retailers are unable to provide.
It must be noted that weather is not the sole factor affecting shopping. The current unemployment rate in the UK is not exactly encouraging consumer confidence, and inflation is still outdoing rising pay. Naturally, spending is heavily affected by these factors.
No Shoppers can be Determined
Shopping for basics like food, drinks and appropriate clothing as per the weather cant be put off no matter how miserable the weather. Moreover, it is mostly the locals who get deterred by the sudden change in weather to cancel or postpone their plans. Tourists do not get put off by weather blues. Why would they give up on an experience such as retail therapy even if the Leeds weather forecast showed an eighty % chance of rain? Especially after retailers slash prices to lure in soaked shoppers.
Although the retail outlook may look gloomy, its not impossible to transcend. Focusing on involving weather forecasting while drawing out seasonal plans and making supply-chain management more flexible can be starting points. Catering to a consumers real needs will never run the shopping dry.
by: RoomSmith
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