Winter weather helps retail store sales

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A week long of cold weather continued with temperatures spending much of the day in the teens and 20's.

Winter is supposed to be cold, when it's not like last years winter, the winter gear you expect to buy might not be worth purchasing.

Laurie Martin says, "It was kind of a non-event and we didn't get a lot of winter stuff last year. He got a snowboard for his birthday, but we never used it."

At Olympia sporting goods in Springfield, the winter snow and this past week cold have helped them recover from slow sales of winter gear last year.

Tony Basile told 22News, "Sales were a lot slower when it came to winter jackets and coats and hats and gloves. This year our quota's been a lot higher."

And when the temperatures drop, sales go up as customers spend.          

While procrastination might mean you get caught feeling cold, there are some benefits for those who've waited till this past week to get their cold weather gear.

And while we're right in the middle of winter, we're actually coming to the end of the winter fashion season and that could mean some savings for you.

As spring clothes start coming into stores, Basile also told 22News that they have to discount winter gear to make room, saving you a chunk of what you would have paid if you bought before the cold of winter arrived.

With almost 2 months left of winter, there's more opportunities for the cold to return.