So being an East Coast resident, the snow's about half-way gone from the sidewalks and streets and it's back to business as usual. However, I can't help thinking how it was almost-perfect timing for e-commerce sales given the approaching holidays.

I can attest to the fact that most of us were holed up for minimally one day - if not two depending on your age, location, etc. This translated - at least for me - to 24 hours of absolute cabin-fever. Not much to do but to troll the web for good holiday deals and catch-up on shopping.

Apparently, millions of others thought the same, as holiday deals were abundant and apparently e-commerce sales got a well-needed boost. Actual numbers not out yet - probably too early to tell - but this likely pushed the percentage point up at least a point or two as those planning on doing physical shopping were thwarted to online buying for the day.

This brings up the bigger picture of how the macroenvironment - those factors outside our control - truly affect sales and overall spending. Ecommerce and blizzards are apparently a match-made-in-heaven.

East Coast blizzard blows sales to the web
http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=32925

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