Local businesses adapt to the slower winter months

Alyx Wood | @alyxbwood

After weeks of lower temperatures and quieter streets, many local businesses say winter is one of the slowest times of the year. Weather conditions play a big role in how many customers make their way downtown. 

Daniel Luckey, owner of Fresh Cut Smoothies, says this time of the year is hard, especially for a smoothie shop. 

“The wintertime is always challenging for businesses downtown; I’ve been down here for about 20 years now. It’s definitely brutal,” Luckey said. 

The situation is not only a problem in Lawrence. The National Retail Federation says that 3.4% of retail sales are directly affected by the weather; the weather influences about $1 trillion of global retail sales annually. 

For some businesses, the slower winter months are a chance to reset and focus on their behind-the-scenes work. Skylar Helm, manager at Daisy Lee Vintage, says they keep the employees busy, even if there aren’t sales. 

“We have fewer sales, so usually during that time we focus on cleaning and other work that we need to get done in the store,” Helm said. 

These businesses adapt what they offer, start new sales, and change how their stores run. 

“One of the ways we’re adapting is by offering hot cocoa,” Luckey said. “There’s a part of it that’s just you have to maintain the course and have an understanding of what it is that your cyclical business is going to be like. You can save money during the warmer months to prepare for the upcoming colder months. Sometimes I have to work extra hours, and you know that’s fine too.”

As temperatures stay low, local businesses say they’ll continue finding creative ways to adapt to slower months, even if that means changing what they sell or how they serve customers. 

Watch the segment here: