After teaching in a number of school districts that did not supply all the instruments I became very happy to move into a district that supplied everything! The district is title one so the majority of families can't afford to buy instruments, especially if they have several kids in band. Not that I could afford top of the line instruments on a limited budget, but at least I could get uniformity of brands, even if I would shop for reconditioned used instruments every year.
Big growth did create a crunch one year. Getting a Conn/Seller deal (which allowed us to finance a bunch of instruments over several years) was a life saver. Success IS a double edged sword and after a couple of Honor Bands and more trips to San Antonio for SMC, interest in band picked up considerably.