Bulk-buying of staples a welcome lift

Shoppers have turned to local bulk-food stores to stock up on supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a silver lining for some small businesses.

Barefoot Creations Karratha owner Lana Armstrong said demand for staples and basic household items had soared over the past month, including baking powder, elderberries, pasta, rice and handwash.

“I had a 400 per cent increase in toilet paper sales,” she said.

“I’ve definitely seen a large increase, especially in customers where they haven’t been able to source the products from the supermarkets. I definitely see positives that have come from it.

“All your main household items that you use regularly, people started buying heaps of.”

Ms Armstrong said further positives included shoppers buying more Australian-made products and becoming more self-sufficient.

“I thank Karratha for supporting my small business at this time. I wonder if people are turning to small businesses to help them stay around because of the current economic climate being so unstable,” she said.

Ningaloo Bulk Foods owner Jess Smith said she too noticed an increase in sales of pantry staples.

“I’ve had a bit of increase in certain items, like when the IGA is out of rice, pasta and toilet paper, I’ve been getting different customers come in for those items,” she said.

“It has been good. A lot of people have been coming in and getting stuff for baking, so I guess that has increased our sales.”

Ms Smith encouraged customers to shop in bulk during this time to avoid leaving the house as often.