The 4-inch snowfall this week has meant a little extra work and extra money for some area merchants.

Sales of snow shovels, rock salt and even sleds is brisk, a few area stores report.

"It's been going real well," Iron City Hardware Store manager Jim Hacker said. "We've been selling lots of sleds. When school is out, we sell a lot of sleds. And people want rock salt to help clean off their sidewalks."

Hacker said people began scooping up the snow items as the first flakes began to fall Wednesday afternoon.

The same was true at East End Hardware. Employee Jeff Dalton said between Wednesday afternoon and about 9 a.m. yesterday morning, Ironton residents bought 15 sleds, 25 shovels and 15 to 20 bags of rock salt.

"I've sold out of sleds and shovels," Dalton said yesterday morning. "Things like this always pick up when it snows."

Those sleds and snow shovels may come in handy again very soon as the

weather forecast calls for light precipitation Sunday.

Shoppers also took advantage of the weather warning to stock up on necessities.

Chuck Donohoo, manager of the Ironton Pick N' Save,

said customers picked up canned goods, bread, meat, milk and eggs.

"Our main rush was (Wednesday) between 7:30 and 8 p.m.," Donohoo said.