You've heard it over and over again in the news cycle. You've probably noticed the bare shelves in certain stores for certain products. And, of course, it affects small businesses too. I've had many delays and, in some instances, cancellations for things due to this supply chain issue. I'm sure some of my contemporaries have seen it as well.

Why is this happening? Well, for many reasons. One thing that has affected Kiskadee is related to the actual virus. I lost spring and summer styles due to factories shutting down in India. Recently, Vietnam was on lockdown again, and three styles of fall shoes are still stuck there. Other parts of the world are still closing factories, ports, and more due to virus containment. Since this has been happening over and over again in the last year and a half, shipping companies cut schedules in anticipation of a drop in demand to ship things around the world. This proved to be a bad idea. Although people stopped spending money on eating out, travel, etc., they picked up spending on things like remodeling or redecorating their homes. 

Another reason for the supply chain issues are backups in shipping channels like ports in Los Angelos and a lack of trucks and truck drivers to take those items from the west coast to the east coast. The sudden influx of ships has caused port backups. I have a good friend who is the scheduler for a trucking company, and for every load they agree to take, they have to turn one down. They just don't have enough drivers. Additionally, shipping costs have skyrocketed. According to the New York Times, "Because containers were scarce and demand for shipping intense, the cost of moving cargo skyrocketed. Before the pandemic, sending a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles cost perhaps $2,000. By early 2021, the same journey was fetching as much as $25,000." With this increase in cost, lower-cost goods are getting put on the back burner for shipping, and companies are choosing to ship higher-priced items instead. 

What does this mean for you as a consumer? Start your holiday shopping now. If you see something in a store you want, don't wait. Obviously, as a retailer, I want to sell things, but I don't say this just to sell things. I tell all of my customers that if they are in any store, Target, Nordstrom, Kiskadee, if you see it, and you like it, buy it. More likely than not, it won't be there when you return, and reorders are near impossible for certain things. As a retailer, I saw this coming and made sure I accepted all of my goods when they were ready. I controlled as much as I could. In years past, holiday goods might be ready in August, but I would delay taking it in. This year, I took it when I could; otherwise, I would have lost it to other retailers around the country.  So, to be honest, Kiskadee is pretty well set for the holidays. In the Shop Page of Alexandria Stylebook, Kiskadee will feature a "Holiday Shop" where you can see some of what we have in store.