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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChristmas at Risk as Supply Chain 'Disaster' Only Gets Worse
Its the beginning of October, just the start of what the retail world simply calls peak. But the industry is already in various forms of panic that usually dont take hold until the weeks before Christmas.
Early in the year, the hope was that the bottlenecks that gummed up the global supply chain in 2020 would be mostly cleared by now. Theyve actually only gotten worse much worse and evidence is mounting that the holiday season is at risk.
Across Europe, retailers such as apparel chain H&M cant meet demand because of delivery delays. In the U.S., Nike cut its sales forecast after Covid-19 triggered factory closures in Vietnam that wiped out months of production. And Bed Bath & Beyonds stock plunged amid shipping woes, with Chief Executive Officer Mark Tritton warning that disruptions would last well into next year. There is pressure across the board, and you will hear about that from others.
Covid outbreaks have idled port terminals. There still arent enough cargo containers, causing prices to spike 10-fold from a year ago. Labor shortages have stalled trucking and pushed U.S. job openings to all-time highs. And that was before UPS, Walmart and others embark on hiring hundreds of thousands of seasonal workers to take on the peak of peak.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-10-04/out-of-stock-shortages-for-christmas-shopping-put-retailers-at-risk
PortTack
(32,767 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(24,474 posts)I see lots of posts on the internet about container conversions into storage and even homes. I know the price of containers are now at least 2x as expensive as they were 2 years ago....but availability of containers in India and China are becoming a bigger issue. This may have a greater impact on business strategic planning than we realize. Manufacturing here may yet make a comeback on this point alone.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)Captain Zero
(6,805 posts)They don't have a crew, or enough crew to operate the ships. Because of Covid some crew members have been "at sea" for a year or over. Due to quarantines they can't get off in most ports in the far east. Then here that can happen or they don't get enough time to be with family.
So some are just walking away.
I would guess some have made a lot of money if constantly at sea for over a year?
So maybe they can afford to take 6-8 months off now?
Anyway I guess this is a factor in supply chain problems too.
Sorry don't have it as a link.
Read it in comments somewhere, so don't bet the rent money on it.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)I'm sure we'll be fine.
redwitch
(14,944 posts)Maybe Christmas doesnt come from a store!
Plenty of small shops with lovely things for sale. There is also Etsy. As for the big stuff like computers and TVs I dont know what to tell you.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)A reasonably high quality computer or TV from 10 years ago still functions pretty well.
NNadir
(33,518 posts)...with her has been the highlight, the best gift. I know she's bought me things, but I don't remember what they were, but I do remember being with her.
We certainly don't need more "stuff." Usually I get a subscription (electronic) to Nature and/or Science for Christmas. No shipping involved.
OAITW r.2.0
(24,474 posts)LuvLoogie
(7,003 posts)to manifest on the horizon? Why spend to enrich the profiteers. A basic shirt made in the third world is still 25 to 30 dollars. A good pair of shoes is still at least 100 dollars.
Might as well buy local, buy American.
rockfordfile
(8,702 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,856 posts)buying lots of crap they mostly don't need.
And I'm not even thinking about those who sincerely honor that day as celebrating the birth of Jesus. Not me. I'm a non-believer, but I enjoy spending time with friends or family, having a nice meal together. My gift-giving is almost non-existent. Just my grown son. And I get him various specialty coffees, which he appreciates.
So many of us have way too much stuff. It really is time to cut back.
marble falls
(57,081 posts)bigtree
(85,996 posts)...more appropriately, who.