Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/267166
20 | I nsIgh t • M a r c h 2 0 14 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m Some see silver lining u nder the snow I t's been one heck of a wInter, wIth record-breakIng cold temperatures and plenty of snow. while most of us have been complaining, the cold and snow is actually good news for some businesses. here's a look at several places that haven't minded the snow and cold…too much. Travel industry cold, wintry weather is definitely keeping things busy at fox world travel, which has 11 locations in wisconsin. "we haven't had a winter like this in 20 years," says brian hurley, vice president of vacation travel for the oshkosh-based company. "January is usually our busiest month and this has been no exception." e most popular destinations are Mexico and florida, he adds. "People are looking to book for spring break or easter, and we've even had some people walk in and say 'I just want to get out of here' and want to get away as quickly as possible," hurley says. e wintry weather, which has bedeviled much of the east and central U.s., is a double-edged sword since fox world travel is also helping its corporate customers who may be delayed in such spots as chicago and new York, he adds. "we provide service throughout the entire trip so if someone books with us and gets stuck in chicago, which has had a terrible winter, it's up to us to help them get where they need to go," hurley says. "our resources have been stretched thin this winter as we help customers book new trips and help our customers who are already on trips." Theaters and indoor recreation thriving Marcus eaters operates several movie theaters in the region as well as funset boulevard, an indoor entertainment complex in appleton. e bleak winter has proved to be a boon for business, says spokesman bob Menefee. not only are people coming to the movies to check out oscar favorites, families have embraced "frozen," the disney movie that came out before anksgiving but was able to finish no. 1 in the box office in early January as most of us were freezing. "disney hit a home run with that movie," Menefee says. Marcus' $5 deal on tuesdays – all tickets are $5 and popcorn is free – has been a huge success this winter for the Milwaukee-based company, which operates more than 700 screens in seven states. at funset boulevard, people are looking to do something fun and ditch their cabin fever. "is is a prime time for funset boulevard. Parents want their kids to be active, but just want to get out of the house," Menefee says. "You can only stay in the house so long." Snow equipment makers e maker of snow blowers and lawn equipment is thrilled with this winter's snowy and cold weather, with sales up more than 40 percent over last winter, says ariens spokeswoman ann stilp. "we love to see all the snow and cold," she says, adding that this year's freezing temps likely drove sales since people wanted to spend less time outside cleaning their driveways and sidewalks. "we actually saw sales increase when it was so cold before all the big snow hit." with lots of snow this winter in the chicago area and out east, plenty of people are opting to put C O U R T E S Y O F A R I E N S Companies such as Ariens, which makes snow removal and lawn care equipment, are benefitting from this season's frigid and snowy winter weather.