Amid the spreading cases of coronavirus, COVID-19, in Washington state, a growing sense of dread over the spread of the illness has retailers scrambling to maintain a sense of normalcy.
Of all retailers, Costco Wholesale has seemingly taken the brunt of panic shopping.
In the retailer’s earnings call Thursday, chief financial officer Richard Galanti said the retailer is working “in some cases, around the clock to procure supplies for both existing suppliers and from other sources where possible” to keep up with demand.
Galanti explained the company faces two types of supply chain issues, high demand and earlier factory closures in China related to the outbreak.
“There’s a supply chain issue related to all these very high demand items related to fighting and protecting yourself; the waters, the sanitizing, and things like that. And then there’s just stuff, I mean everything from furniture to apparel to electronics coming from China,” he said.
“My guess is if everything got better tomorrow from a concern standpoint, you still have a few weeks here where it takes time to fill those supply chains.”
Galanti also noted Costco warehouses have ramped up “sanitizing protocols.”
“Some examples, wiping down cart handles with sanitizing wipes, placing of sanitizing wipes stands at entrances also along the fresh-line wall at food courts. Enhanced procedures at the food courts, patio tables, condiment tables, dispensers …”
The retailer in some instances is imposing limits on the number of items one customer can purchase.
“We are doing that in some instances. It tends to be at all locations but may differ regionally based on supply levels,” Galanit said.
Elsewhere, other stores were starting to get some rebound.
By Thursday night, Gig Harbor’s Fred Meyer had replenished items it had been sold out of earlier in the week, such as toilet paper, but was still understocked or out of some cleaning supplies and rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.
Other products, such as hand sanitizer, are still in scarce supply area-wide. Public health officials stress that proper handwashing is a primary prevention technique.
Many residents are using community Facebook pages to give neighbors updates on what’s available where. One posting from March 3 on a local Gig Harbor neighborhood page reported that a new shipment of toilet paper to the Tacoma Costco was sold out in 20 minutes.
Debbie Cockrell has been with The News Tribune since 2009. She reports on business and development, local and regional issues.
