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Samantha Hayes ReportingAfter another day of frigid temperatures you may be wishing for something a little warmer. That was definitely not the case last year when we had a very unusual January.
January 2003 was so warm, we got our seasonal sports confused. You were more likely to see golfers on the links, than skiers on the slopes. One year later only the geese are confused. We're back to normal winter habits, including shoveling snow, snow-blowing snow, and driving in snow.
The driving part is particularly important to Rese Carter. Last year he had to lay off workers because snow tires wouldn't sell.
Rese Carter, Big "O" Tires, January 2003: “We usually order in anywhere between three to six hundred tires, we had to return over 400 this year."
Now it's taking extra effort to keep snow tires on the racks. Carter says he's sold....
Rese Carter, Today: “I’ll bet you well over a thousand. Well over a thousand.”
If just one of his snow blowers had sold last year, Thom Sewell would have been happy.
Thom Sewell, Store Owner, January 2003: “I could probably put a free sign on them, leave the front door open and I don't think anyone would come in."
This year, when we came back to talk to thom sewell at a-1 engine and mower, we found out his store had been closed. We found him working at Lowe's.
Thom Sewell: “A lot of the stress is gone.”
Stress that came from waiting for just one good, snowy winter.
Last year, he couldn't sell one for nothing. This year, nothing is what's available.
Thom Sewell: “If you called a stick a snow blower, they’d buy it if they thought they could move snow.”
If you do need a snow blower, Lowe's told us they will have more in on Thursday.
