“Ding dong …” That's how the doorbell sounds when we enter STOK Poortuut in Nuuk's old harbor on Tuesday morning.
The sound is usually barely audible in mid-January, but these days the bell rings almost continuously.
– Nuummiut has been in chaos since the day before yesterday. People are stocking up with water jugs and other things that can be used to heat food and the like, says Anthon Mølgaard, store manager at STOK Poortuut.
He has no doubt that the US's plans to annex the country are the reason for the prepping that has now begun.
– Our compatriots come in, and you can see on their faces that there is something they fear, he says.
In the midst of the situation, it's hard not to be affected yourself.
– Even if there is something we fear, we try to hide it. At least I do that myself. I don't want to show that I am afraid or upset. But when I get time off, the fear comes. “What is going to happen? Will something happen tonight?” We don't know what will happen from day to day, says Anthon Mølgaard.
Sold out items
It's not just STOK Poortuut that has been busy in recent days. Stark Nuuk is also experiencing many customers.
– We are generally busy, but we can also see that the prepping phenomenon has increased sales of certain product groups in our house, says Lars Frandsen, department director at Stark Nuuk.
Generators and kerosene stoves are already sold out in Stark Nuuk.
– We are a bit behind in terms of such an emergency preparedness. So that means that we have only had the goods that we normally have for this season at this time of year. So we are basically sold out of those products, says Lars Frandsen.
Also in STOK Poortuut, the shelves where water cans are usually located are empty. Not only water cans, but also gas and generators are sold out.
– We can't keep up. We've already ordered something from our suppliers, but they won't arrive for three to four weeks, says Anthon Mølgaard.
Up to three times as many sales per day
When stores sell goods, it is usually positive, but this situation feels different.
– Of course, it's good for the store, but what we're being hit with now hurts our feelings, says Anthon Mølgaard.
Turnover has increased significantly in the last two or three days.
– If we consider that it is January, our daily sales and income have increased by double or even triple, says Anthon Mølgaard.
Lars Frandsen emphasizes that Stark Nuuk is normally busy because they sell equipment and materials to the construction industry, but that the situation right now is different.
– It's clear that January and February are a bit of a slow month. And that's also why we suddenly notice that there are bigger sales of some products that we didn't expect to sell so much of, says Lars Frandsen.
Stark Nuuk has now ordered the sold-out items and hopes that they can be delivered at the beginning of February.
Getting busier
When we visited the two stores on Tuesday morning, the Greenlandic Government had not yet come up with more detailed recommendations on what to have at home in the event of an emergency. When more details are available, both stores expect the pressure to increase further.
– We can feel the pressure on the selected product types, and it is clear that this is not the last customer who has asked for it. Many more customers will come and ask for those products, says Lars Frandsen.
In STOK Poortuut, just like in Stark Nuuk, they have not been prepared for the crisis situation we are now in. Therefore, customers have to wait up to three to four weeks for the sold-out items.
– If the Government of Greenland comes up with an additional contingency plan, we can only temporarily refer to the blue barrels, says Anthon Mølgaard.
While we are in STOK Poortuut, customers continue to come in. As we are on our way out, Anthon Mølgaard stops us. He wants to send a message to his compatriots.
– I hope our compatriots will come out of this situation safe and strong, even though what we are going through is very hard, concludes a clearly affected Anthon Mølgaard.
