(Please Don't) Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
ByKevin Smith
Like an inconsiderate party guest, Old Man Winter arrived early this year, bringing his trusty cohorts snow, ice, wind and rain. The first official day of winter is still a month away, but many parts of the United States are feeling the freeze, especially in the Northern Plains, where snow fell 11 days before summer officially ended. If that is any indication of the upcoming season, retailers could be in for a long and brutal winter.
Winter Forecast
For many, winter is a magical time of the year. For retailers, however, winter can bring dangerous, deadly and unpredictable conditions. This year is no exception with a higher than normal risk for extreme cold temperatures in the Northern states, blizzard and snow storms from the Rocky Mountains through New England and hard freezes in the Southeast. Long-range models are predicting much of the U.S., from the Gulf Coast through New England, could experience up to three degrees below normal temperatures in November and December. Weather patterns worsen from January through March 2015, as the Midwest and East Coast are at an enhanced risk for snow and hard freezes. States around the Great Lakes could be in for record-breaking cold with five degrees below normal temperatures forecasted.
Business Impact
What does this mean for business? Home improvement stores and grocers must monitor blizzard and snow storm development to keep supplies and food in stock. Convenient stores and gas stations need to schedule additional fuel and diesel deliveries.
Retailers selling warm clothing are in high demand, and road and travel conditions concern employers who want to keep personnel safe and delivery services on time. In short, winter weather affects all lines of business.
Fighting Jack Frost
With advance knowledge of extreme weather threats, locations can reschedule deliveries and pickups, keep personnel out of harm’s way, build loyalty among consumers by providing critical supplies and help local communities bounce back following a major weather threat.
To help retailers stay one step ahead of competitors and off a consumer’s blacklist, ImpactWeather recommends implementing the following winter weather preparedness checklist:
√ Review the company’s insurance policy with an agent to confirm appropriate winter coverage;
√ Identify and connect with the responsible party for a preseason checkup of your facility or store;
√ Contract with a snow removal service and establish minimum service levels;
√ Reinforce emergency supplies with rock salt, sand, snow shovels and warm clothing;
√ Determine critical electrical needs and procure the appropriately sized generator;
√ Exercise an emergency notification system; include all employees and key vendors;
√ Conduct an awareness event for employees to ensure their preparedness;
√ Mark hydrants, meters and other infrastructure access points for ease in locating after a storm;
√ Include triggers in an action plan to determine when to:
√ Stock up on emergency supplies that customers will need;
√ Reschedule deliveries and pickups;
√ Close and reopen the storefront or business; and
√ Monitor approaching weather threats daily.
It’s not enough anymore to just respond to severe weather threats. Retailers must be proactive and prepare well in advance for storms that could disrupt their business model and supply chains. By implementing severe weather preparedness strategies and tactics, retailers will be in a better position to be the last to close and the first to open when disaster strikes.
Kevin Smith is VP of onshore corporate services, ImpactWeather – A StormGeo Company. ImpactWeather is a full-time weather department for hundreds of corporations globally, providing site-specific forecasting, monitoring, alerting and business continuity tools.