Distributors recommend that end users purchase ice melt in the summer months to guarantee enough product when winter actually arrives. Consulting the Farmers Almanac can help gauge the severity of the approaching winter, but in reality, no one can accurately predict the weather. So, end users estimate as best they can as to how much product they think they’ll need.

This strategy works well in light to moderate winters, when there is plenty of product to go around. But what happens when cities experience record snow falls year after year and ice melt supplies run short?

If a harsh winter is predicted, distributors can base early ice melt sales on past figures. Calculate customer’s ice melt usage from the past five year’s and sell them that amount. That way end users will have peace of mind that they will be guaranteed a set amount of ice melt and distributors can figure out if they have additional product left to sell late purchasing customers.


posted on 7/13/2010