But instead of gambling on properly stocked shelves and short delivery times, you can take measures to get what you want when you want it. This prevents storage availability from limiting manufacturers, allowing them to make more and better stuff for less money, and get it all on the shelves faster and more efficiently. But like any tightly networked system, one delay cascades through and can ruin everything. And the pandemic has caused not one, but thousands of those. “With shortages of many key components for manufacturers as well as labor shortages—or stoppages—in the global market due to COVID, retailers are facing a variety of different headwinds across different fronts. The products they want to sell will likely be unavailable,” says Carlos Castelán, managing director of retail management consulting firm, The Navio Group. This has hit some products harder than others, especially those that have been in short supply since the beginning of the pandemic, like bikes and electronic devices. “Any products made overseas, or that require raw materials from overseas are affected. The more complex the supply chain, the higher the likelihood that the product will be impacted,” says Aaron Rubin, CEO of ShipHero, a company that handles shipping for thousands of eCommerce vendors. Imported goods like consumer electronics, activewear, and mass-produced toys, are more likely to see a squeeze. If those aren’t on your list, then you’ve got less to worry about. Shopping before this date also helps stores and other customers, as forgoing the rush will result in retailers getting less slammed post-Turkey Day. Not to mention fewer people going to stores, means less COVID risk for everyone involved. “Retailers and manufacturers may not have the inventory to support promotions,” he explains. “Forgoing promotions not only will keep products in stock longer but also help recoup the costs of supply chain disruptions.” This is true even for products whose sales have been down during the pandemic, like smartphones. It’s also a good idea to have backup options ready as well. This is especially true for products that have been hot during the pandemic, like game consoles and bikes, as there’s no end in sight for those particular shortages. If you are looking for something extremely specific, Brooke Welty, who runs the art shop Atavism Idols out of Gloucester, MA, encourages going to Instagram. ”It’s the best place to look because you can get pretty specific with hashtags, and anything that gets more eyeballs on a small artist’s work is a good thing,” she says. Welty also notes that if you want something custom, the sooner you commission it, the better, as makers have limited time to put unique pieces together. Shipping as early as possible will also guarantee it gets there on time. Mail networks are facing the same labor and time strains as other shipping services, so getting a gift in the mail early can help you save the holidays.
