The Supply Chain – Make that the Supply Ball and Chain

It’s all well and good for a blog like this one to share hot home design trends and uber-cool new home furnishing lines from various manufacturers like Kravet but – there just hadda’ be a “but”, right – but, we still have serious supply chain issues. And, according to some, the problems won’t be ending any time soon.

We don’t want to beat a dead horse on this subject but, while this particular horse is very ill, it’s still far from meeting its maker.

In a recent article at BusinessOfHome.com, author/editor Ray Allegrezza began a multi-part series that purports to analyze the problems with the supply chain and predict some sort of resolution. (Or, at least the potential for resolving these challenges!)

“Perfect storm isn't just a metaphor,” he declares. “In February, severe ice storms shut down the power grid in the Gulf of Mexico, shuttering four major chemical plants in Texas and another in Louisiana, which drastically reduced the availability of chemicals needed to produce foam used for furniture.

“Key upholstery sources began telling customers to expect a series of price hikes on goods, [along] with surcharges to help offset skyrocketing container and transportation costs. And since this was all part of the movie we are calling “The Perfect Storm”, this series of problems – raw material shortages; price hikes for fabric, foam, wood, metal, and more; and related disruptions in trucking, logistics, workforce, and beyond – hit precisely when demand was going through the roof.”

The “Perfect Storm”, indeed.

Doxing the West Coast Docks

Is it doxing if the info you share is true and already public? Who knows.

What we do know for certain is that the largest ports in the US; Los Angeles and Long Beach in the San Pedro harbor of Southern California, usually handle the great majority of imports from Asia. Currently, however, some 100-150 container ships are floating nearby and unable to dock and unload.

Further, once a ship does unload its cargo, there is a backlog of containers waiting for trucks – and drivers – to haul them across the country. Ports up the coast in San Francisco and Seattle simply do not have the capacity to handle the overload.

As a result, other ports in Texas, Georgia, and even Florida have begun to see a substantial increase in shipping. This, despite the added time and expense of traversing the Panama Canal (if it’s not backed up, as well).  These ports are also nowhere near as large as those in Southern California, meaning they do not have the capacity needed to relieve the backlog anytime soon.

If patience truly is a virtue, those of us in the furnishings and design industries must learn to possess ourselves with it.

“Another indicator that industry challenges will persist is a just-tabulated survey taken among 1,500 independent sales reps who are members of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association. When the survey asked them to share how the pandemic has impacted their businesses and when they foresee these issues improving, 33 percent said mid-2022. Another 29 percent said late next year – and, tellingly, 30 percent said things would not improve until the very end of next year.”

So, according to the sales reps, those who should know since they exist between the manufacturers, dealers, and designers, we’re in for another six to twelve months of this craziness!

What Can You Do?

Besides being patient and hoping things get better for no discernable reason other than faith, the best path for dealers and designers to cope with the supply chain mess is to keep working with suppliers you know and trust. Keep these relationships open at all costs, and keep the lines of communication as wide open as possible between you, your suppliers, and your clients.

Further, it’s our fervent hope that you think of TD Fall as one of those reliable suppliers. We also hope that our relationship with you has made you confident in our ability to not only meet your product needs, but that we also keep you informed of anything that may impact them. If you have questions or need more product information, feel free to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.