As streets begin to become coated in winter white, we’ve compiled some advice for using same-day delivery when preparing for winter weather this season.

When winter weather strikes, Shipt closely monitors the situation, notifies customers on the importance of stocking up early, stays connected with retail partners on their operational updates and makes sure Shipt Shoppers know they can choose to shop if they feel safe to do so. 

Last year, these actions came into play when, during the first week of December, Northeastern cities like Boston and New York City, were hit with a nor’easter. When compared to sales from the previous week, Boston saw an increase in purchases of non-clumping cat litter. No surprise, since the Red Cross advises people to use the product to make your sidewalks less slippery on their winter storm checklist. And in New York City, we saw an increase in Shipt customers purchasing toilet paper, canned dog food, canned cat food, paper plates and toothbrushes. 

Whether you’re new to same-day delivery or have been using Shipt for a while, here’s some helpful tips when placing an order ahead of a snowstorm:

• It goes without saying, order as early as possible so you can get ahead of item quantity limits, out of stock items, high store traffic and early store closures. 

• When adding items to your virtual cart, don’t forget to select backup substitutions or set your substitution preferences to have your Shipt Shopper choose the best substitution for you. 

• Leave detailed delivery instructions so that your items are delivered efficiently and out of the winter elements. 

• Keep your phone nearby during the hour before your delivery window in case your Shipt Shopper needs to communicate with you about your order or delivery updates, due to traffic or road closures. 

“The biggest winter weather advice I would have for people is to stock up before the winter storm comes. We live in Chicago. It’s inevitable that we will have a winter storm and you should make sure you have non-perishable food on hand.” - Kristine S. Chicago shopper 

We are also committed to being there for our communities after winter weather passes, which is why we’ve donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the American Red Cross since 2018 to help their local relief efforts.