If running a small biz isn't hard enough, add in supply-chain delays during the holidays

Small businesses on the South Shore are facing shipping delays and a dearth of supplies and capital as the holiday shopping season begins.

Businesses have responded to the monthslong problems with several strategies, such as ordering early in bulk and educating customers about delays.

"I have reps that I've worked with in 1989," said Kathy Detwiler, the owner of Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset. "None of them have seen anything like this before."

For a few stores, just getting products in the door has been difficult for months.

At the Cohasset bookstore, Detwiler said shipping that used to take three to seven days to arrive can now take six weeks or more.

"We've been told that this was going to be an issue back in January," Detwiler said.

Shortages continue

That early notice gave Buttonwood the chance to prepare for delays, but some products are still hard to find.

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"We've had a really hard time getting our full order (of gift wrap) in," Detwiler said. "Paper supplies are definitely difficult to get. There's definitely holes in what we normally would have."

The supply chain issue strikes industries beyond gifts. Chocolate and sprinkles have been in short supply too.

"My biggest problems are also getting products in," said Laurie Bourke, owner of Lorraine's Cake and Candy Supplies in Hanover.

The shop just celebrated its 44th anniversary, and Bourke said she's never seen supply problems this bad.

Bourke said she placed the store's holiday orders in May, and didn't see products arrive until October. She's still waiting for some things to arrive.

"Hopefully they’ll be in before Christmas,” she said.

Chocolate has been especially difficult to find. The brand Lorraine's relies on – Merckens Chocolate – shut down one of its factories during the pandemic, she said.

Certain sprinkles have been elusive, cake boxes and boards are becoming harder to keep in stock, and Lorraine's is trying to stay stocked up before the holiday rush arrives.

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The second problem Lorraine's faces, Bourke says, is finding a place to put the larger-than-usual stockpile once it arrives.

"It's never been this bad," Bourke said of the supply issue.

KAM Appliances has been feeling the weight of delays too, marketing manager Ryan Stanton said.

With locations in Hanover, Hyannis and Nantucket, KAM is in the same boat as many other appliance stores on the South Shore, which all rely on the same warehouse, Stanton said.

“There are delays in our industry,” he said. “Everything from computer chips and dishwashers to handles being made from across seas.”

What's in stock changes every day, he said.

A while ago, the insulation that lines refrigerators was in short supply because it was the same insulation used to package COVID-19 vaccines, Stanton said.

“This definitely has not happened before,” he said.

How shops are handling delays

For some stores, the solution isn't as simple as just buying everything at once early in the season.

For Lorraine's, sometimes it can be a struggle as a small business to have the capital to pay for orders upfront, especially when buying large quantities of chocolate early.

"Sometimes that’s an obstacle,” Bourke said. "I might order two or three thousand pounds (of chocolate) at a time."

Bourke said she stocked up on red and green food coloring and royal icing mix as she prepares for the holidays.

At Buttonwood, buying early, buying large and asking customers to order specific books early has been the strategy.

“We rented a pod for storage," Detwiler said. The shop doesn't have a lot of storage area. "It’s just been a lot of work."

Detwiler said an apparent sand shortage made it hard for Buttonwood to stock up on the stemless wine glasses it sells, which feature local town ZIP codes printed on the side.

The bookshop owner said she had to order an entire year's worth of glassware at once in April to have enough for the rest of the year.

Now, Buttonwood is ordering products for Easter, Detwiler said.

Other than buying early and in bigger quantities, Buttonwood has tried to diversify its vendors so the shop isn't so dependent on single sources.

"I think hopefully we’re in good shape," she said.

Ordering more stock isn't always an option for some retailers, including KAM, so the appliance store has been focusing on educating customers about their options.

“Just as long as you’re not picky,” Stanton said, customers can generally find products that fit their needs, even if they aren't the exact items they originally wanted.

“More often than not, we’re getting the response that people understand that,” he said.

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Reach Alex Weliever at aweliever@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Small businesses find challenges in supply-chain delays, lack of items