GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The sight of snow on Thanksgiving, and its persistence since, sent unprepared snowplow customers into a frenzy all over West Michigan last week.

It’s a typical trend for the first flurries of the year. One commercial snowplow business owner told News 8 that even the large businesses with big lots to clear often wait until the first snow sticks to call for a contract. 

That means the busy season arrived a little early for the companies that support those plow drivers as well.

“It’s usually a last-minute thing,” Jake Deewaard, Vice President of Mason Dynamics told News 8. “They get people calling them to schedule last-minute removal from their driveways. People don’t always plan ahead maybe as much as they should have.”

Mason Lawn and Snow handles installation and service of snow machinery for more than 250 companies in the Greater Grand Rapids Area. 

“We’ve seen a big uptick in business since Thanksgiving time,” Deewaard added. “Alot of hydraulic issues, electrical issues. Things have been unplugged for the season and plugging them back in you see a lot of corrosion.”

Mason’s also sees a boom in small-machine repair and service along with the first flurries, like commercial sidewalk-clearing machines, residential snow blowers and smaller plows.

Beyond installation and service of equipment, Mason’s also sells a number of overlooked accessories as plow drivers embark on a new season.

“Those sticks they use to mark driveways and parking lots, those fly out the door this time of year. We have thousands,” Deewaard said. “Lighting, we sell a lot of truck lighting like strobes and backup lights.”

Deewaard added that they will stay busy through the winter and all the way into the spring, as many of those same companies then transition into lawn and tree care — calling for more seasonal service of those machines.