CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – As we inch closer to the official start of the winter…seasonal preparations are a must.

“It’s better to be prepared and do it in advance,” Rocky’s Manager John Beston told 22News.

That’s what shoppers at Rocky’s Ace Hardware in Agawam were doing ahead of Sunday’s expected snowfall.

“We’re getting some pet-friendly salt for the walkway and we need a good shovel,” said Carlen Coelho, from Feeding Hills.

Beston said many customers were coming in in search of ice melt and shovels. He also offered some advice for those who may be pulling out their snow blowers for the first time since last year.

“You want to fire it up before it snows, to make sure it’s going to start. you don’t want to have six inches of snow outside and then realize it’s not going to start on you,” said Beston.

And when it comes to winter weather supplies, Beston says that there’s one item that is often overlooked but is definitely something that you’re going to want to have in case of snowy weather one of these.

“Everyone forgets to buy snowbrushes for their car until their our their scraping it, shoveling it with their glove instead of buying a snowbrush. lock deicers so if it’s like a freezing rain event, that they can get into their cars and what not,” Beston told 22News.

So now’s the time to grab those supplies if you haven’t done so the Agawam Rocky’s is open until 7 p.m. on Saturdays and opens at 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

“Because you don’t want to be struggling at the last minute when there’s snow on the ground and you’re trying to drive all over looking for supplies when every year people run out of things and they can’t find the supplies that they need and they’re already gone out of the stores,” said Beston.

“Everybody stay safe out there, have a great holiday,” said Coelho.