This winter has been the most mild winter we've had in many years, before we were born even. Although the winter is not over yet, snowfall does not look to promising. A few years ago we had a tough, long winter and the snow kept coming. All the golf course's were struggling while all the ski resort's couldn't be happier. A friend of my family who owns a golf course was even trying to sell it because the amount of money he was losing. Now, with this "early summer like weather"
These effects have changed to the opposite. Golfer's have been golfing all winter (my father went golfing through December all the way to now). He says he can't remember since he's been alive a winter like this one of 2012. How does the owner of a golf course or ski resort deal with weather like this? Many ski resorts are shutting down while the golf industry of the northeast is booming, and many former golf course owners are shooting theirselves in the foot right now wishing they never sold their course a few years back. Weather can make it very hard to make good business decision because who knows what next years winter will bring.
It has got to be hard to own a business that relies on the weather. More and more there is no pattern to this weather and it is making it difficult for these businesses to work well. I was talking with the VP of guest services at Sugarbush during our spring break as people were skiing in t-shirts and shorts. He was telling me how tough a season it was, but for every bad season there is also a good season. Hopefully next year will be one of those good years for the ski resorts that struggled.
ReplyDeleteSeasonal businesses deffintily run the highest risk. But there can also be huge rewards. Many of the moutnains around here have begun intense advertising campagins and outsourcing marketing to local firms. THey have come up with some pretty catchy ads for sugarbush's for twenties pass.
ReplyDeleteI intern at Redstone Commercial Group who bought Bolton Valley around in the early 2000's and was definitely a controversial purchase. I was there for their second to last weekend on March 18th and the same spring/summer apparel was being worn there as well. Dan M's right in the risks of seasonal businesses and I think the way things are going that cold weather companies are in a lot of danger. The month of march broke 6,000 heat records in North America and rising temperature statistics is nothing new, although controversial. I'd like to say that this was a beyond bizarre year but I think there are many more to come. Sell
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