Sometimes we need to think outside the box when facing shortages.
Today’s blog is by Margaret Stewart, Director of HR, and Administration at SafeSourcing Inc.
We have all seen foods and good fall in and out of stock at the stores the last few years and it can be trying. On more than one occasion, I have had to change my grocery shopping list around certain items simply not being available. The recent volatility of the market and the ability to stock and keep stock in our stores has caused frustrations across the board – from consumer to retailer and manufacturer.
Instead of just waiting for items to become available again, we can make use of the time and try a new tactic. We can try a temporary replacement. Like a new homeowner waiting for furniture to be delivered, you do not want to just sit on the floor and wait. You would find something that you can do or use in the meantime! This can be a solution to fill those shelves and may even help to find a gem of a product.
Let us suppose that your retail business has had trouble finding enough peanut butter to fill your shelves. While you wait for the industry to recover and allow you to fill your shelves again, in the meantime you could find niche products, even locally made, that could fill those gaps in your shelves. This will add to your portfolio of products, give customers more to see and consider, and also help the new supplier of this product. You never know – it could become a popular item and you may want to keep it on your shelves all the time.
While this tactic may not work for every item, the general idea is the same – that there are ways to overcome shortages or at least make good use of the time until the shortage is back in stock. SafeSourcing is a procurement partner that can help you find products that you already buy or even ones you have never bought.
For more information on what the SafeSourcing team can offer you, or on our Risk Free trial program, please contact a SafeSourcing Customer Service representative. We have an entire team ready to assist you today.
