The weather. Probably one of the most talked about subjects in the world. And not without a reason. Not only does it affect our days, our moods, our plan, it also affects businesses to a large extend.
Fact:
70% of businesses are affected by weather ! Examples:
- Ski resorts
- Beach clubs
- Movie theaters
- The beverage industry
- Insurance companies
- The film industry
- Energy companies
- Construction
- Farming
- and many many more…
That’s trillions of dollars! Imagine the effect on the GDP. Some articles mention one third of the global GDP to be weather-dependent.
And of course, the sheer agony lies in its unpredictability. This is one area where man has difficulty controlling the world. God must smile at that 😉
What do you do with that? What do you do if YOUR company is affected by the weather? Some thoughts:
1- Bitch and moan about how crappy the weather is, and that your business is going down the drain because of it. Not a smart choice…
2- Turn it upside down. Make a negative a positive! Give discounts to your clients when they buy in conditions other than your normal/average weather conditions. Great.
3- Know the impact of the weather on your sales! Understand seasonality. Forecast and plan against it. Smart.
4- Work with specialists in the field. Example: http://www.climpact.com/en/the-company. Worth a shot.
5- Take an insurance that covers the extremes. Nice.
6- Go find another line of business. Good enough.
To close off, London Skies, a brilliant song about London weather by new-style Jazz genius, Jamie Cullum (yes, I’m a big fan)
What do YOU do when the weather impacts your business?
Thank you for reading this blog post,