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Salt shortage showcases Frank's customer service

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
An ice storm on New Year's Day into Sunday, Jan. 2, left area roads and sidewalks covered with at least a quarter-inch of ice and emptied area store shelves of salt.

Frank's Hardware Co., 5444 Highway 10 East, Stevens Point, was able to get salt but had difficulty keeping the salt in stock throughout the week, despite receiving daily shipments.

"It was nice to be able to help the community out, like a small, independent business," said Linda Klein of Frank's, thanking customers for showing patience while waiting for deliveries. "They were very patient," she said.

The salt was sold as quick as the store could get it in.

"The semi (tractor-trailer) would come in and in two to 2-1/2 hours we would completely sell out," she said. "We had five people just loading cars. People were waiting in their cars, reading newspapers, waiting for the salt."

She said workers would remove the salt from the semi and drive the fork lift to the front of the store, unloading the salt right to people's trunks. "It emptied so fast," she said, "We ran out so quickly."

When the ice storm struck, the store had five pallets of salt, with each pallet containing 48 50-pound bags of salt, a total of 240 bags.

On Sunday, Jan. 2, the store ran out of salt quickly, just as other stores did. But on Monday morning Frank's arranged for a shipment later in the day.

Klein said people would call in and ask about salt, then come out and wait for the shipment to arrive.

Monday's shipment of nine pallets with 432 bags sold out quickly, and Frank's was able to get a similar shipment of nine pallets on Tuesday.

But Tuesday's shipment also sold out quickly, and Klein said she contacted the supplier and was able to get 11 pallets with 528 bags for Wednesday.

When Wednesday's shipment arrived, the store sold out again, and she was able to order 13 pallets for delivery on Thursday, a total of 624 bags, plus another eight pallets with 384 bags for delivery on Friday.

That amounts to 2,640 bags, a total of 132,000 pounds, more than 66 tons, for the week.

When a minor ice storm hit in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Jan. 12, Klein said the salt continued to be an item in demand, although the demand was less than last week.

Klein acknowledged that Frank's connections and reputation with distributors helped the store receive daily shipments.

"We sent our supplier flowers for going above and beyond in getting salt," she said.



	Salt shortage showcases Frank's customer service By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette An ice storm on New Year's Day into Sunday, Jan. 2, left area roads and sidewalks covered with at least a quarter-inch of ice and emptied area store shelves of salt. Frank's Hardware Co., 5444 Highway 10 East, Stevens Point, was able to get salt but had difficulty keeping the salt in stock throughout the week, despite receiving daily shipments. "It was nice to be able to help the community out, like a small, independent business," said Linda Klein of Frank's, thanking customers for showing patience while waiting for deliveries. "They were very patient," she said. The salt was sold as quick as the store could get it in. "The semi (tractor-trailer) would come in and in two to 2-1/2 hours we would completely sell out," she said. "We had five people just loading cars. People were waiting in their cars, reading newspapers, waiting for the salt." She said workers would remove the salt from the semi and drive the fork lift to the front of the store, unloading the salt right to people's trunks. "It emptied so fast," she said, "We ran out so quickly." When the ice storm struck, the store had five pallets of salt, with each pallet containing 48 50-pound bags of salt, a total of 240 bags. On Sunday, Jan. 2, the store ran out of salt quickly, just as other stores did. But on Monday morning Frank's arranged for a shipment later in the day. Klein said people would call in and ask about salt, then come out and wait for the shipment to arrive. Monday's shipment of nine pallets with 432 bags sold out quickly, and Frank's was able to get a similar shipment of nine pallets on Tuesday. But Tuesday's shipment also sold out quickly, and Klein said she contacted the supplier and was able to get 11 pallets with 528 bags for Wednesday. When Wednesday's shipment arrived, the store sold out again, and she was able to order 13 pallets for delivery on Thursday, a total of 624 bags, plus another eight pallets with 384 bags for delivery on Friday. That amounts to 2,640 bags, a total of 132,000 pounds, more than 66 tons, for the week. When a minor ice storm hit in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Jan. 12, Klein said the salt continued to be an item in demand, although the demand was less than last week. Klein acknowledged that Frank's connections and reputation with distributors helped the store receive daily shipments. "We sent our supplier flowers for going above and beyond in getting salt," she said.