Brrr… It’s Cold in Here
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Winter months, especially in the northern regions of the country, are marked by snowy roads, icy driveways and overall uncomfortable outdoor conditions. But don’t let the unpleasant weather fool you into believing that people stay inside and avoid shopping. In fact, just the opposite seems to be true. A poll conducted by the Yakima Herald, a Washington state newspaper, reveals that, even in an area of the country that receives a great deal of snow, shopping is not nearly as affected by frigid temperatures as many might expect. Out of those polled by the paper, 36% responded that they “stay home as much as possible to avoid driving.” However, that’s compared to the 47% majority who claim that “nothing has changed” in their behavior inside or outside of the home. The poll also revealed that a small number of people, or about four percent, go out shopping “just to get out of the house.” Indeed, the winter months do have a nasty habit of keeping us cooped up, and shopping is a perfectly acceptable cure for cabin fever.How Does Weather Affect Shopping?
Consumer behavior can be swayed by a variety of factors, not the least of which is the weather. It may not seem as crucial as your next big marketing idea, but it is still pretty important to understand the various ways that patterns and changes in the forecast can affect buying.
- Research has shown that weather, and the conditions related to it,
- can be responsible for changes in product demand, the timing of the purchase and a shopper’s willingness to shop.
- Today, Milo explores the various ways that weather can affect shopping.
