The El Ni & #324;o storms hitting sunny Southern California have dampened sales and caused delays for some L.A. businesses, although a select few others are actually benefiting from the rainy weather. The Business Journal Forum asks:

Have you suffered at all as a consequence of El Ni & #324;o?

Douglas H. Barr

president and chief executive

Goodwill Industries of Southern California

It has affected us. Our sales have been down about 10 percent of what they normally would be. People are not wanting to shop and not wanting to donate. Some of the donations get wet and some of them end up not going to the stores, but instead are being recycled and turned into rags. There’s no question it’s had an effect. We think the donations will come back because people will wait and then donate when things dry up.

Samantha Lee

manager

Crazy Fish Japanese Restaurant

No, not here. People still wait outside in the rain nothing stops them. They bring umbrellas, but when they bring them inside it gets very messy.

Cameron Silver

owner

Decades Inc.

We probably had our highest traffic day on one of the most awful Saturdays. These customers are not window shoppers they’re serious shoppers and they want to spend money. The rain has been good for business.

Tom Pease

assistant manager

Rizzoli Bookstore

Actually, it’s averaged out to be the same as it usually is. We’ve had days when it’s pouring outside and you could set a bomb off in here and no one would get hurt. Then there are other days when it’s raining out and there’s a zillion people shopping in here. It seems to have very little to do with the weather.

Steve Hatchett

Prime Cuts Record Store

It is slower, definitely. I think people are avoiding going out and dealing with the whole thing.

Larry Hanson

associate vice president of convention services

Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau

Not at all. In fact, this year is our best year ever. The number of visitors has been growing and we’re even breaking records. I don’t think El Ni & #324;o has had a significant effect on meetings and conventions.