Living in the chilly north, snow, snow, snow is a regular sight… for me. For others, tourists, newcomers to the area, it is a novelty. As is wearing mittens and hats and scarves.
I work in the hotel area of downtown (by a large convention center). What one enterprising businessman has done is set up a kiosk on the sidewalk selling…. you guessed it… mittens and hats and scarves. These are dollar store buys (though he does stick the city name on them to make them a souvenir which costs him likely another fifty cents or less) and he charges $10 for them. He does a brisk business on snowy days.
During the summer, he sells umbrellas, rain hats and rain slickers. Again, when it rains, he does great business.
If you're thinking it doesn't sound worth it, that's not all. He also gives away free maps. What? That doesn't earn him anything… or does it? You see, all around the perimeter of these free maps is advertising. Advertising for restaurants, shows, souvenir shops. I expect he makes a half decent profit off these "free" maps.