There are any number of reasons why you might not be able to find what you need when shopping at your usual stores. Breakdowns can happen at any point in the supply chain. The manufacturer might be experiencing supply issues themselves, for example. Or there could be problems with the transportation end of things.
A lesson some folks learned the hard way during the COVID pandemic was that you might need to think outside the box when it comes to finding the resources you want or need. To that end, here are some options to consider.
Shopping when Resources are Limited
Hardware Stores
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If you have a decent hardware store in town, either a small shop or a big box home improvement warehouse, you might be surprised at what you can find there. Squirreled away between the hammers, screws, and lumber is a plethora of household goods.
They often have a whole aisle of cleaning products, from dish soap to drain cleaner and more. You’ll be able to find just about any size battery imaginable. Just about every retailer these days sells bottled water, and hardware stores are no exception. They even have toilet paper.
Farm Supply Stores
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These are obviously a rural thing more than urban. But if you have one in your area, it can be a tremendously valuable shopping resource. If you have pets to feed, this is where you’ll want to go if your normal source has dried up. This is also where to head for seeds, soil, and other garden needs in the spring and summer months. In the fall, many of these stores will set up displays with canning jars, lids, and other food preservation supplies.
Office Supply Stores
While many of the larger chain office supply stores have moved to being strictly online, you can still find a brick-and-mortar option here and there. They have a lot more than just pens and paper, too. Think along the lines of what you’d find in the break room at the office. These stores usually carry coffee and snack food, as well as paper goods like rolls of paper towels.
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Auto Parts Stores
This isn’t the first place most people would think to go, but they have a lot of supplies that could be useful. They’re a great source for nitrile gloves and other protective equipment. Many of the cleaning kits they sell for detailing cars can be repurposed for home use.
Sporting Goods Stores
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Head to the camping aisle first. They often carry a range of gear that can be powered via the 12V outlets found in vehicles. These include things like little coolers/freezers and various cooking implements. Of course, they’ll also have camp food, like Mountain House or Backpacker’s Pantry.
Shopping Tips
Because many of the resources you’re trying to locate aren’t the bread and butter for these retailers, the supply is going to be limited. You can’t count on them having endless cases of these things. But they also might not sell out right away, simply because people won’t think to stop there.
The prices are definitely going to be higher than what you’ll find at your usual discount retailers or grocery stores. In some instances, you may be buying in bulk. But paying a little extra to ensure you have what you need might be an acceptable tradeoff.
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Take some time to explore the stores in your immediate area and see what they can offer.
