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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
S3E12 - Sunny With a Chance of Mousetraps: How Weather Affects Marketing
This week, we explore how the weather affects marketing. With 75 years of climate data cross-referenced with reams of shopping research, marketers can now use the weather to predict sales. Sears Automotive knows that 5-year old car batteries die after three consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures, so they advertise on day four. The busiest day of the week at Harley-Davidson dealerships is exactly 22°C and sunny. When spring temperatures hit 21°C, hair removal products surge 1400%, and BBQ sales jump 200%. And did you know that when the temperature drops just one degree in the Fall – just one degree - mousetrap sales surge 25%? Marketers do.
And while they can’t manage weather, marketers can certainly now manage the financial implications of weather.
It’s a whole new day.
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