Some locals like this weather

LYNN – So far it’s been a snow-filled winter, but more snow translates to more money for several local businesses that benefit from the wintry weather.An employee at Beden Hardware in Lynn says the recent snow storms have helped generate sales on the necessities for getting through a storm, particularly sales on shovels and rock salt.”We’re probably one of the only businesses that benefit from bad weather,” said employee Mario Pinto.”We’ve seen a lot of people stocking up on shovels and rock salt. Those are the big items that customers need to make it through a storm and for clean-up.”Pinto said business yesterday was on the quiet side, but he expected to see a lot of customers in the next few days picking up ice choppers.”We’ve sold a lot of ice choppers because people are going to need them once the snow melts and turns to ice,” said Pinto. “After a rainy, wet day like today, ice choppers and rock salt sell fast. People tend to buy the shovels before the storm and then we see sales rise for ice choppers once the snow starts to melt and freezes.”Pinto said he’s always surprised by the number of customers he sees in the middle of a snowstorm.”You’d be surprised by how many people come in during a blizzard just to get some rock salt,” he said. “We’re always busy during storms. Right in the middle of a storm people will come in and buy salt and shovels.”He said the fact that the store gets a lot of business in the middle of the storm allows him to see just how many people actually prepare for a storm ahead of time.”Surprisingly, we have more business in the middle of a storm instead of before it,” said Pinto. “The smart customers get here before a big storm and stock up. The ones who didn’t prepare are always the ones shopping in the middle of a storm but we can’t complain about that.”Pinto said he thinks this season is the busiest time of the year for the store.”I think winter time is probably our best season,” he said. “We’re probably one of the only businesses that people will visit during a blizzard.”Jerry Paradee manages Green’s Ace Hardware in Marblehead and said along with shovels and rock salt, sleds are one of the most popular items that he sells in the winter.”We’re right next to a park and a big hill, so on snow days we’ll see a lot of families in here buying sleds and then heading over to the hill,” said Paradee. “The kids stay there for hours.”He said he tends to see a lot of customers panicking before a big storm and adds that it’s usually people who experienced the Blizzard of 1978.”We witness a panic before the storm,” he said. “People that went through the Blizzard of 1978 are usually the ones in here before the storm trying to prepare by picking up the salt and shovels. Those items fly off the shelves just like milk and bread. It’s all a trend of the season.”Paradee adds that flashlights and batteries are also common items that are bought in preparation for a storm.”Those items sell almost as fast as the salt and shovels,” he said. “It’s all about preparation. People don’t want to risk being stuck at home with no power and no flashlights.”Unlike Pinto, Paradee says the store is typically busier the day before a storm, but says there are still many customers who show up in the middle of it.”We do see a lot of people who prepare before the actual storm,” said Paradee. “The store will be mobbed just like a grocery store. But that doesn’t mean the store is always quiet during a storm.”He says during a storm, it’s typical to see customers traveling to the store in more ways than driving.”We see a lot of customers that walk here during a storm to avoid the roads. Parents will pull their kids here on sleds, get what they need and then sled for hours. People tend to find a way to get here.”For many individuals, a snow storm means staying at home and off the roads which often translates to more business for food delivery services.An employee at Hot Cheese Pizzeria in Swampscott said the business gets significantly more