It’s the day before the 4th of July, and every single package of hot dog buns has vanished. It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and the store is sold out of canned pumpkin. This isn’t a coincidence; it’s a predictable pattern of consumer demand, supply chain stress, and “just-in-time” inventory. Stores try to predict the rush, but they often underestimate, leaving shoppers to hunt for items that disappear right when the holiday hits.
