Fears over the coronavirus pandemic and 2020 presidential election are driving a demand for pepper spray

• Sales of pepper spray are spiking in the United States, as fears swell over the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming presidential election.
• Mace Security International CEO Gary Medved told USA Today that consumers are looking to "be prepared" due to uncertainty.
• In July, Mace Security reported that its net sales were up 16% in the second quarter from 2019, despite logistical difficulties presented by COVID-19.

Shoppers are increasingly reaching for pepper spray as fears and anxiety levels over the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming 2020 presidential election continue to grow across the US.

Mace Security International CEO Gary Medved told USA Today that demand is so high for pepper spray products that his company's factory is mulling the creation of a new third shift to keep up. The CEO of the Cleveland-based retailer cited "uncertainty" over the election and pandemic as the two main factors driving the scramble for pepper spray.

"The last few months have told people, 'be prepared,'" he told USA Today.

Mace Security's latest success follows a trend of soaring sales for pepper spray products this summer – marked by both the coronavirus pandemic and public unrest sparked by police brutality and the killings of Black people, including George Floyd.

Sales of pepper spray tend to flourish in times of unrest. In January 2016, Cleveland.com reported that "greater global concerns about uncertainty and violent crime" had boosted Mace Security's sales.

In the spring of 2020, crime rates actually dropped nationally due to lockdown orders, according to the Associated Press. But consumers fear-driven mentality has reached new levels, thanks to a virus that has killed more than 177,000 Americans.

Mace Security's net sales were up 16% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year. The company attributed the growth, in part, to the "addition of new customers both in retail and e-commerce segments." Year-to-date sales have also increased 9.6%, despite coronavirus-related logistical issues.

"Between our branded website and online marketplaces, total digital sales increased triple digits on a percentage basis in the second quarter driven by existing customers and a dramatic increase in new customer acquisition," Medved said in the release.