There were mixed opinions with one theory that the treacherous underfoot conditions on footpaths could deter shoppers from hitting the high streets on what is traditionally one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year.
However, another opinion was that the Arctic conditions - as well as adding to the ambiance and potentially giving us one of the first truly white Christmases in a generation - could affect people's choice of shopping destination.
With travelling conditions on main roads being potentially treacherous and slow moving another belief was that shoppers might decide to stay in places like Ballymoney and Ballycastle instead of making the trek to bigger shopping districts like Coleraine, Ballymena and Belfast.
Meanwhile, Ballymoney-based North Antrim DUP Assemblyman, Mervyn Storey, said his office received several complaints about the conditions of footpaths in the town after the heavy snowfalls at the weekend.
But it is understood Roads Service does not have the resources to clear footpaths across Northern Ireland although there were reports of them vowing to grit roads not on the official schedule once the regular routes were done.
Elsewhere the snow created mayhem.
There was a report of an ambulance being unable to get to directly outside a house in the Greengage Lane area of Ballymoney and instead a child had to be wheeled a quarter of a mile from a house to the vehicle.
A DRD spokesperson said: "Over the weekend Roads Service has worked continuously to ensure that all main roads on the primary salted network were gritted.
"The forecast for the next few days shows temperatures reaching -4C to -5C and Roads Service will continue to treat roads accordingly."
Bin lorries also experienced problems but councils vowed that if bins were not collected on Monday they would endeavour to pick them up on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
At Beckett Park in Ballymoney on Monday morning a bin lorry parked up rather than attempt a slope and workers ferried bins backwards and forwards.
But with predictions of temperatures set to remain low this week it remains to be seen if bin lorries will be able to get to all houses.
Nigel McKeown, Head of Environmental Services at Ballymoney Council, said on Monday: "We have been having some difficulty with refuse collections in some parts of the Borough, for example where there are slopes like Greengage and Downview.
"We can't take the risk with a lorry as they might not get out of an area again but any bins we do not get today we will endeavour to get them on Tuesday or Wednesday."
A Moyle Council spokesman told the Times on Monday their lorries were out and about on Monday trying to get as much work done as possible and if bins could not be lifted they would attempt to get them later.
He said it was fortunate the Monday routes were mainly in the built-up areas of Bushmills and Ballycastle but feared there could be difficulties with the rural run on Tuesday.
The head of Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce, Paul Cochrane of PC Electrics, said on Monday morning he had a four-wheel drive vehicle on standby to help deliver goods that afternoon in the wintry conditions.
He said many shoppers in the town were commenting on the "atmosphere" generated by the snow in the week leading up to Christmas and most people were adapting.
He felt the snow might actually give Ballycastle traders a boost as people who may be considering going out of the town for their last minute Christmas shopping may decide to stay in the town.
Having said that he said a number of people were able to travel over to Ballycastle from Cushendall on Monday morning despite the snow.
However, one trader in Ballymoney who did not wish to be named, said: "I hope the snow lifts before Christmas Day because people are finding it very difficult to make their way along the icy footpaths and they just might give the last minute impulse buys a miss if it stays like that up until Friday."