Snowstorm takes toll on retailers

New York City Retailers in the Northeast region are preparing for round two this week as another major snowstorm threatens to disrupt business. Here is a glimpse at how the weather is affecting the retail business from Planalytics, provider of the Business Weather Intelligence service:

Percentage of stores affected Feb. 9 through Feb. 12 by snow:

• The Bon-Ton Stores: 99% of stores impacted
• Dick's Sporting Goods 77%
• BJ's Wholesale Club 75%
• DSW: 59%
• Talbots: 56%
• The Children's Place: 56%
• TJX Cos.: 55%
• Limited Brands: 52%
• Sears Holdings: 50%
• Brown Shoe Co.: 47%

Weather-driven demand by product category:(compared with same period last year) 

Winterwear:

• Northeast (total): up 18% last week, up 115% this week
• Baltimore: up 58%, up 200+%
• Philadelphia: up 16%, up 147%

Soup:

• Northeast (total): up 1% last week, up 23% this week
• Baltimore: up 10%, up 28%
• Philadelphia: up 17%, up 29%