"I'm an entrepreneur 100 percent of the time," says Adilisha Patrom.

Over the weekend, a barren storefront on Florida Avenue NE was transformed into an emporium of coronavirus cure and opportunity. Adilisha Patrom, the owner of the space (who operates a luxury hair extension business next door called Galaxy 5000), says she uses the space for events, but she recognizes the laws of supply and demand. Once coronavirus outbreaks had been announced in the U.S. and a significant threat was causing people to panic, she whipped out dense supplies of hand sanitizer, face masks, and Clorox bleach to innoculate you from your panic. On the glass pane of the storefront a poster is plastered, reading, "Protective Face Mask Here: Limited Stock."

Note: You do not need to buy a face mask. Doctors, nurses, and other health care officials will need face masks. By panic-buying and hoarding these important supplies when we don't need them, according to the CDC and the U.S. Surgeon General, we could negatively impact our nation's resiliency to the disease, so let's be smart.

Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!

They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9

— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020

“Just as long as I have it, I make sure other people have it around me,” Patrom says.

It's been awhile since the U.S. has experienced an outright pandemic (and, mind you, most of the nation hasn't felt the impacts locally yet). But being the kind of nation we are, the one thing we've heard the most about (other than actual documented outbreaks of the disease) is its impact on markets. Sure, global investors are concerned about productivity, supply-chain issues, and declines in consumer spending. The S&P isn't doing too hot, because people don't buy as many iPhones when they are, you know, sick or dying. Pandemics are bad for productivity. Isn't disease inconvenient? 

Global health crises—or, in this instance, perceived global health crises—have a profound impact on prices of goods perceived to be scarce. This is a phenomenon we're seeing both in the concept of Patrom's store and in prices of basics like hand sanitizer locally. (In Italy, hand sanitizer is currently going for rates north of 30 Euro, and other third-party sellers on Amazon are price-gouging these supplies in light of consumer panic and heightened short-term demand.) 

Patrom, a 29-year-old Howard University graduate, however, says she'd never engage in price-gouging like this. Her store currently sells Purell hand sanitizer, face masks, Lysol/Clorox bleach, and supply kits stocked with an assortment of the three. At Patrom's pop-up store (according to DCist), Purell will sell for $5, masks for anywhere between $5- 30, and a Lysol/hand sanitizer/mask kit going for about $25 at this time.

To her credit, outside the store, Patrom has stocked educational fliers informing people on how to prevent spread of the virus (handwashing, covering your mouth when you cough, avoiding close contact, and more).

As for the disease itself, Patrom says she's not concerned.

“I’m not worried at all, but I feel like I’m prepared,” she says. “If you’re doing things to make sure you’re prepared, you don’t have to go into a frenzy. Because I’m prepared it takes away all of my fears and worries.”

Be careful about spreading misinformation when it comes to the coronavirus, and don't share something unless it's true—health and safety are no joke. Be smart, and hey, wash your hands! 

What do you think about the pop-up store? Have you noticed price markups for hand sanitizer or other goods in your area? We'd love to hear how this is impacting you.