Islanders stock up on storm supplies

People tend to wait till the last minute before preparing for winter, says hardware store assistant manager

Image | Tammy

Caption: Tammy Clory, assistant manager of Home Hardware in Charlottetown, says she seen an increase in their customer base this year. (Sarah MacMillan/CBC)

Islanders were determined not to get caught off guard by another snowstorm this week — and that was good news for one local hardware store.
"Certainly this year we did see an increase in our customer base," said Tammy Clory, assistant manager of Home Hardware in Charlottetown.
"We've seen a lot people coming in for winter-related items — shovels, salt, things like that."

Image | Shovels

Caption: Snow shovels were hot sellers at the Home Hardware in Charlottetown on Thursday. (Sarah MacMillan/CBC)

It usually takes people one storm before they start preparing for winter, she said.
"The first storm some people do get caught — surprised — but usually are prepared for the next one."
The first storm some people do get caught — surprised — but usually are prepared for the next one. –Tammy Clory
Close to 12,000 Islanders were without power — many for up to a week — after a storm earlier this month.
Oil lamps, flashlights and other "power failure items" were also popular items Thursday, Clory said.
"People are certainly being prepared on the off chance that happens again."

Image | Virginia Burt

Caption: Virginia Burt was shopping for a new windshield scraper on Thursday. (Sarah MacMillan/CBC)

Customer Virginia Burt was not about to get caught unprepared. She was in the store to get a new scraper for her windshield.
"My other one's not doing the job, and with a storm coming, you have to have a good one," she said.