White stuff on the ground can be a headache for commuters, but for some local businesses, it signifies a steady revenue of green.

Certain businesses, such as tire, hardware and grocery stores, don’t exactly dislike snow. It has the potential to bring in customers looking for items to get them through the bad weather. In Federal Way, Les Schwab Tire Center and Walker Ace Hardware were prepared for increased customers following Wednesday’s early morning snow flurry. Snow continues to plague residents on the eastern side of the country, and locally, the storm brought a few inches of snow to some South Sound locations. However, Federal Way experienced only a dusting and temperatures remained mostly above freezing. The event wasn’t as lucrative for businesses as November’s snow storm.

“It’s not like what it was in November where we had people lined up out the door,” said John Cassinerio, Federal Way’s Les Schwab manager.

Cassinerio said Wednesday that his crew always prepares for a busy day when it hears snow is heading toward Federal Way.

“For us, as a business, if we have any kind of weather event at all, we’re always on call,” he said.

But the latest overnight snow wasn’t enough to send local folks scurrying. Despite a weather forecast outlining the potential for more light snow Wednesday, Cassinerio said he’d sent one employee home by 9 a.m. when it appeared the skies were clearing. Usually, the rush to get snow tires and chains happens before the holidays, when people are expecting to travel, Cassinerio said.

“Historically, if we get any kind of weather event before the holidays, it’s mayhem,” he said.

Such was the case in mid-November, when loads of snow graced the Puget Sound beginning Thanksgiving week. That Monday, Nov. 22, was a busier-than-usual day at Les Schwab, Cassinerio said. The shop usually does about $10,000 in sales per day; revenues reached around $50,000 that day, he said. The shop opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 10 p.m. Customers were waiting four and a half hours to get tires and snow gear for their vehicles, Cassinerio said.

Cassinerio said he’s not counting on another big day like that before 2010’s end. The tire center could see increased business in the final days of the year, but probably only if snow falls later in the week, as some people may plan to travel for the new year holiday, Cassinerio said.

“I’m hoping for it,” he said.

Adam Walker, owner and operator of Federal Way’s Walker Ace Hardware, said it was business as usual Wednesday at his store. There needs to be heavier snow for a longer amount of time before it brings in loads of customers, he said.

“We need worse weather than this,” he said.

Winter storms help keep Ace in business during the winter months, Walker said. Homeowners are less likely to step outside to tackle home projects during this time, but they can be counted on to visit in a hurry when the weather turns nasty. Walker generally stocks up on items such as sleds, snow shovels, deicer, windshield washer, kerosene and sand in preparation for winter weather. He bought a few bags of tube sand in preparation for Wednesday’s snow, he said.

Walker said he often watches weather forecasts, keeping an eye out for weather that could bring customers into the store. “We definitely get our hopes up to a certain extent,” he said in regards to weather reports about potential stormy weather.