Hardware store stresses supply chain crisis

(ABC 6 News) – We have all heard about the ongoing supply chain problems happening all across the country for months now, and consumers are paying more in almost every sector.

At Arrow Hardware & Paint on North Broadway in Rochester, they’re managing the supply chain shortage the best way they can, so they can give you what you need for winter.

"What we’re worried about is a couple of weeks down the line, when we sell all these off and we haven’t any more to sell, then people will almost be desperate," Michael Dean, an employee at Arrow Hardware & Paint said.

At Arrow Hardware and Paint, they have a whole section dedicated to winter gear. Shovels, gloves, ice picks, and more.

Michael Dean says he’s unsure of when some winter items are going to arrive, but what you see is what you get.

"You just try and help people as much as you can, that’s the name of our game anyway," Dean said.

The shelves are stocked with some shovels leftover from last year, there’s some left in the back, but that’s it.

Michael says salt is also hard to find.

"We’re having trouble finding salt to put on your sidewalks, we can’t even order it from our sidewalks because our warehouse isn’t even stocking it either," Dean said.

But throughout all of these challenges, Michael says there’s a silver living here.

"Despite all of the issues we’ve gone through with COVID and the supply chains, we’re still open and servicing our customers like always, we have all of the stuff we need, we’d like more but we’ve got most of it, there’s no reason to huddle in your house and act like you can’t go anywhere, because you can," Dean said.