Stores’ Stores
I was in our nearest Wal-Mart a couple of days ago, and it was odd. The shelves were not fully stocked. In particular, there was not much rice, and in the automotive dept., there was only one container of Sta-Bil, an additive that you mix with gasoline to store it for a year or more. There were also other gaps here and there. Nothing terribly important. Just a bit surprising.
I mentioned this to my wife, and she said the store where we get most of our food also had gaps on the shelves.
You know that on our home page I talk about the ‘just in time ordering‘ that most stores do now, to decrease their inventory costs. The things I’m seeing after the holiday season make me wonder if they are starting to be even more frugal about inventory. It would make sense, in our increasing fragile economy. The less inventory, the less credit needed and the more profits. Yes, it makes sense for them.
But it’s not so good for an emergency. I always talk about not wanting to be in the crowd that goes to the store at the last minute, because of the danger, and because the goods that you would want disappearing so quickly off the shelves.
Now I’m thinking there may not be sufficient quantities even for the early arrivers.
We are entering into a new economic season. If you have any doubt, look at the stock market, the unemployment figures… all the major indexes. The store of goods in our stores will, some time soon, reflect the end of overabundance in our society during this cycle. Eventually, not everything will be available all the time. This will also become true for online sales. Already some survival food sites are cautioning that demand is outpacing production, and they are low or completely out of some items.
I don’t think I’m being alarmist to caution you not to wait very much longer to fund your personal food bank. If you have not already stocked your store of food for an emergency, please consider doing it soon. Take advantage of the time and convert some of whatever finances you have into the most valuable commodities… food and water. Get ready for that rainy day. One way or another, it’s coming.
