Possible toy shortage looms this holiday season!

[Rob Thompson]

Possible toy shortage looms this holiday season!

Source - Fortune

By -  Chris Morris

Date - 29-07-2021

Santa might have to cut his summer vacation a bit short this year.

Continuing troubles in the shipping industry are making toymakers and retailers concerned about whether there will be a sufficient supply of toys this holiday season. Concerned parents might want to begin shopping earlier than usual.

The disruption is even worse than last year, when many ports were closed, say toy industry execs. (Most toys are made in China.) This year, bottlenecks at seaports are to blame. Some toys are expected to experience months-long delays before hitting store shelves.

“There could be still unanticipated supply chain challenges, and it’s hard to tell what the future may hold,” Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz said on an earnings call.

Even the toys that do make it to shelves could be more expensive. Manufacturers are running up costs as they try to combat the supply issue. As a result, re-negotiations are underway with retailers on prices, which are normally agreed on up to a year in advance.

The Wall Street Journal notes that prices on L.O.L. Surprise dolls and Little Tikes have already seen some prices jump from $10 to $12 and from $29 to $35. And Mattel, on its earnings call, said the price of Barbies, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and American Girl, along with other products, would be higher in the second half of the year, though it’s unclear if retailers will pass those costs along as well at this point

Hasbro, also, says it will increase prices to "offset the rising cost of freight and commodities we continue to see across the business."

Retailers, typically, have holiday toys on shelves by October, catering to early shoppers. But supply chain issues could push that later, meaning the retail frenzy that usually starts in mid- to late-October could be even more ferocious this year—especially for the year’s hottest toys.

[Rob Thompson]

Well, it looks like the elves are going to score for some serious overtime shifts  

[Dave Vermeulen]

There’s always a silver lining. When toys made overseas have shipping problems and delays it gives local manufacturers and smaller businesses a wonderful opportunity to get their products on the shelves and into the stockings for children. It may not be the #1 gift requested, but sometimes that’s a good thing too.

[Jeff Hillyard]

14 minutes ago, Steelwheels said:

There’s always a silver lining. When toys made overseas have shipping problems and delays it gives local manufacturers and smaller businesses a wonderful opportunity to get their products on the shelves and into the stockings for children. It may not be the #1 gift requested, but sometimes that’s a good thing too.

What a positive way of looking at it, Dave

But I'm still glad my children already have a Nintendo Switch

Edited August 12, 2021 by Jeff Hillyard

[Warrenton Santa]

😒