Local retailers that sell winter-related items such as boots, shovels and salt say business has been good so far this winter.
Joe Wince, manager of the Auto Zone store in Marietta, said car battery sales have been particularly high.
"Car batteries are going really well right now because we offer free installation on most vehicles, so sales have been up, definitely," he said.
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ASHLEY HILL The Marietta Times
Marietta resident Dan VanNoy purchases motor oil and Sea Foam motor treatment from Marietta Auto Zone sales manager Rob Bowman Friday. Auto Zone and other retailers have been busy recently with folks buying winter-related items such as ice scrapers, shovels and salt.
Cold temperatures cause car batteries to work harder and make them more likely to die.
In addition to car batteries, Wince said the store also sells winter wiper blades, ice scrapers and winter fuel treatments, among other things.
Just as folks often head to the grocery store to stock up on food when they hear snow is on the way, Wince said they also gather necessary items from the auto parts store.
"People go there and buy milk, eggs and bread, and they come here to buy salt for sidewalks and de-icer for cars and scrapers and that kind of thing," he said. "Cold weather is good for (the) auto parts (business)."
More snow is on the way this weekend, with a total accumulation of 3 to 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. There's a 40 percent chance of snow during the day Saturday and a 50 percent chance overnight. There is a 50 percent chance of snow during the day and overnight Sunday.
Retailers say although winter-related items have been selling well, they still have plenty of items in stock.
There are thousands of boots in stock at Bridgeport Equipment & Tool in Marietta, according to sales manager Brandon Neville. Those and other items the store offers, from outerwear to shovels to salt, have been selling well, he said.
"We went from fall and warm temperatures right into the cold real quick, so everything took off gangbusters ... from the insulated boots to the Carhartt," Neville said. "And as cold as it's supposed to stay for the next few weeks, we expect it to continue through the first of the year."
Rita Stollar, the office manager at Apex Feed and Supply, said the business has also done well so far, and rock salt, in particular, has been very popular.
"It's been pretty good," she said. "We've had a lot of snow."
