Weather forecast could bring positive news
A new report released by business weather intelligence specialists Planalytics Inc., will make pleasant reading for leather outerwear and footwear manufacturers and retailers as its "9th Annual Holiday Preview" is predicting better sales of winter products including winter outerwear, sweaters and other seasonal goods.
The report projects positive year-on-year weather driven demand changes in North America for softline categories such as boots/seasonal footwear (+21%) and outerwear (+12%), which will come as good news to companies such as Wilsons the Leather Experts which have seen significant falls in sales of leather outerwear due to unseasonably warm weather in recent times.
"The past few months have been extremely difficult for many retailers but weather is set to switch from enemy to friend as the holiday shopping season begins," commented Scott Bernhardt, chief operating officer for Planalytics. "The unseasonably warm weather that kept shoppers away in September and October has created quite a bit of 'pent up' demand that consumers will look to address as cooler weather finally arrives."
"It is going to feel a lot more like winter this year than it did last year," stated Mr Bernhardt, "and it will influence what is in shoppers' bags. Stores selling seasonal merchandise should have a happier holiday than many are expecting."
