Early snowfalls have put snow shovels in high demand, with some retailers selling out of stock.
Canadian Tire and Home Depot have both reported inventory levels of shovels are low.
Lisa Gibson, a national spokeswoman for Canadian Tire, said consumers should call stores before heading out to check on stock.
"Given the early arrival of the large amount of snow, our sales have been higher than usual at this time of year, and we are experiencing a shortage of shovels and snow throwers," she said in an e-mail.
Home Depot stores are also seeking to replenish strained shovel supplies, said Tiziana Baccega, a spokeswoman for the retailer.
"To help forecast customer demand for snow removal products we look at the trends from the last five years, which is usually a fairly accurate indicator," she said. "This can of course be thrown off when we get an unexpected amount of snowfall as we have this year."
Ken MacEachern, who owns the Canadian Tire in Charlottetown, told CBC News Thursday he's already sold more shovels this season than he did last winter.
"Most stores have sold everything they've sold in the whole year last year. That's what it boils down to," said MacEachern.
"This is probably the toughest winter we've had in two or three years for sure."
A spokesman for Garant, which manufactures shovels in Canada, was not immediately available for comment.
