Blizzard conditions spurred sudden winter purchases and the need for winter services throughout Bismarck-Mandan this week.

Jeff Hinz, owner of the Kirkwood Ace Hardware, was ordering more snowblowers Friday morning after shoppers emptied the shop of larger models.

"It's been nuts. It's been five years since they moved," he said. "A lot of people want the big, walk-behind blowers."

Hinz said an early snowfall is often a deciding factor in how season sales will fare.

Brian Frank, general manager at Menard's, said snowblowers, shovels, de-icers and sand weights were big movers this week.

"Tire sales went skyrocketing," said Al Zahn of OK Tire. "We're swamped through Monday."

"We've been booked solid for the last week," said Randy Rath, owner of the Bismarck Tire Center. "Snow definitely helps business."

Ray Klein, manager of Carquest, said wipers were hot sellers in the past two days.

Motorists also needed help moving from ditches, their parking lots and being lodged in snow banks around town.

"It's been non-stop," said Chris Mehlhoff, an employee of Berg's Towing of Mandan. "We've been doing pullouts, wench-outs, semis and jump-starts." A closed Interstate 94 to the west slowed the towing company's access to some vehicles until the road reopened Friday morning.

Buyers also clamored for warmer clothing items from the racks.

"It's been hats, gloves, snow boots, shovels and ice melts," said Dennis Sieber, manager of Kmart. "Historically, sales peak on the first snowstorm."

He added sales of sleds were strong during the snow days for Bismarck-Mandan children.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktribune.com.)