BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) - With snow on the way, Buffalonians are heading to local stores to stock up on winter essentials. The Valu Home Center on Elmwood Avenue is lined with shovels, hats, gloves, rock salt and space heaters. Store Manager Chris Graf says having these items in stock is an important part of the job. "We've got a lot of repeat customers here who like to get things at the same time every year, so it's been fairly steady still even though our winters are pushing back a little bit," Graf said. "Everybody will come in when there's three or four inches of snow on the ground, but Buffalonians are pretty good planners so I wouldn't say that's the overall feel." Graf says the first snow of the season is when these items really go flying off the shelves. "Being a community owned business, we like to be active in providing essentials to our communities that we work and serve in," Graf said. "One of our main goals is to help the folks around us and having these supplies ready when they're needed is certainly near the top of our list." Graf says usually by now there would be more customers buying these items. However, the business is prepared and he does expect it to get busier by the end of this week. Latest Local News Local stores stock up on winter weather essentials ahead of snowfall Niagara County woman sentenced for kidnapping elderly man Tage Thompson ready to return for Sabres Two senior staffers out at City Hall as Scanlon shakes up new administration Tonawanda golf dome adds new worldwide technology Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.