‘Balmy’ Winter Weather Leaves Spokane Merchants Out In The Cold

El Nino has not been kind to area merchants who sell snowmobiles, thermal underwear, and galoshes.

Until the past few days, the weather has been unusually balmy. Only a year ago, a bone-chilled populace, besieged by an horrific ice storm, downed trees and power lines and deep drifts, cleaned out area stores almost to their last pair of earmuffs.

“We bought for this winter on the basis of last winter,” says an Eagle Hardware & Garden Center department manager. “Last year, stores around the country sent us their surplus cold weather inventory, after we ran out. This year, we’re sending it all back.”

Would a good snowfall or cold snap change their luck? Probably not, most merchants seem to think. “Unless we get a foot or more,” speculated the Eagle Hardware man, “people won’t even break out the blower. They’ll just brush off what they can with a broom, or spread a few chemicals.

“It usually takes one really good, big, paralyzing snowfall,” he said, “to get people’s attention.”

At the Outdoor Sportsman store on North Division, manager Jim Morelly reported sales down sharply for insulated outdoor wear. “It’s the same at all the stores,” he said. “People think they can ride out the rest of the winter without buying.”

Country Homes Power Equipment got lucky. “We relocated last October and had a big moving sale,” says Garth Selden, vice president and manager. “People bought ahead of the season, anticipating a normal winter, and we sold 75 percent of our snow throwers.”

That left Country Homes with 200 snow throwers to sell going into the winter. “We still have them,” says Selden. “Now, they are marked down to about what we paid for them, and we are offering really attractive deferred financing, trying to get rid of the lot.”

Bob Miller of Miller’s Trustworthy Hardware said pre-season sales also helped his South Side store. “Some people bought snow shovels early - just in case,” he said. Also a plus, seasonally cold weather the past few days has sparked demand for space heaters and heat tapes. However, short of a really big storm, he, too, thinks the winter sales season is probably shot. “It’s that time of year,” said Miller, “when people will try to stick it out until spring.”

Promotions help boost winter tourist traffic

“Quite frankly, it rains a lot in Seattle in the wintertime,” confesses Seattle-King County Convention & Visitors Bureau news chief David Blandford.

“Consequently,” explains the Emerald City tourism booster, “this is our slow season for visitors.

“A lot of leisure travelers - especially people who live in the Northwest - wouldn’t even think of traveling here in the wintertime,” he said. “They’re going somewhere warm, like Hawaii.

“So, we have to make visiting Seattle in the winter as inviting, entertaining and, above all, economical as we possibly can.”

To that end, the Seattle Super Saver Package is offering visitors up to 50 percent off room rates at 25 downtown Seattle hotels, along with big savings on visitor attractions, shopping and dining through March 31. Upon check-in, travelers receive a book of coupons good for savings on attraction ranging from the aquarium, theater, ballet, restaurants, retail stores, cruises, the Monorail and the zoo.

Advance reservations are required. With one phone call, travelers may reserve rooms at properties ranging from value inns to luxury hotels. The number to call within the U.S. is 800-535-7071; from outside the U.S. call 206-461-5882.

Now in it’s seventh year, the visitor promotion package has proved a stunning success at luring more than 80,000 overnight-visitors to downtown Seattle last year, and increasing room revenues by about $8 million.

This is the model for a Save on Spokane package, which was launched in November but has gotten little mention in the Spokane media because it’s not of particular interest to the local populace. It targets the outlying reaches of the Inland Northwest and Pacific Northwest.

“We focused on small towns around the region and advertised in parts of Western Washington and Canada,” says Carolyn Ogden, tourism development director for the Spokane Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

All of Spokane’s major hotels are participating in the Save on Spokane package, billed as a “Getaway from the Everyday.” Special room rates range from $36 to $79, the latter price including a full breakfast for two. The package includes coupons and special prices for dining, shopping, entertainment, recreation, and services.

As in Seattle, reservations must be made in advance. Spokane does not have a single 800 number for reservations at all hotels. Instead, the Save on Spokane promotional package lists the 800 number of each hotel so people may call direct.

The number to call for a free Save on Spokane package or other information is 800-248-3230.

EDC to hold annual meeting Feb. 17

The Spokane Area Economic Development Council’s annual meeting will be Feb. 17 at 4 p.m. in the DoubleTree HotelCity Center.

Executives of newly recruited companies will share their reasons for choosing Spokane. Mark Turner, newly named council chief executive, will unveil new economic development strategies.

, DataTimes MEMO: Associate Editor Frank Bartel writes a notes column each Wednesday. If you have business items of regional interest for future columns, call 459-5467 or fax 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Frank Bartel The Spokesman-Review