Shipping woes trickle down to local businesses

Economic experts warn shoppers to expect record out-of-stocks as they visit local stores and scan retail websites, along with prolonged shipping delays.
A few local businesses have voiced their concerns with getting shipments to replenish their stock.
Sweden Creme owner Jamie Jussel said they have been having issues with getting some food items and paper products for the last three months.
“Mostly, we have been having trouble getting appetizers, chicken strips and all our paper products,” Jussel said.
When they do finally get the shipments, it’s about double the price.
“Prices are bad everywhere. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.
Jussel said she has three suppliers to order from, but many times they are out of stock—sometimes at the same time.
“I don’t think there are enough warehouse workers and delivery drivers available. Then the warehouses are short on stock because of delays somewhere else—it’s a chain effect,” she said.
Customers can still order food online at Sweden Creme’s Facebook page, but only items that are currently available will be listed.
“I just go week to week and hope for the best. Right now we’re stocked pretty well on food. We’re just short on our paper stuff,” said Jussel.
Ronee Kruger, owner of Lavender Market, said items she orders are not being delivered.
“I placed many orders in January with the understanding they would be delivered in July—I’m still waiting,” Kruger said.
Clothing deliveries are slow to arrive but OK. It’s home decor that’s a problem, she said.
Receiving shipments isn’t the only problem.
The delays are subject to additional surplus rates and container charges added on because of delivery delays due to no fault of the store owner, said Kruger.
Higher shipping expenses are felt all the way down the line, so the charges have to be passed on, she added.
The price of flowers is about 25% higher right now, too, she said.
“I’m not passing on all the extra freight to my customers like other places around the country. I don’t feel right about it. I just hope I can survive. It’s frustrating,” Kruger said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the end of this.”
Lavender Market is having an open house this Friday and again the next Friday.
It had to be split up due to the shipping problems, she said.
“I will be having store specials the weekend following Thanksgiving,” she added.
Shipping has become expensive in 2021 due to a lack of shipping containers, unexpected delays, inefficient cargo processing and a continuing shortage of dockworkers and truckers, said economists.
Bomgaars is seeing some availability problems, too.
Store Manager Nicki Sailors said until recently, they were having trouble getting bottled water which is a big seller.
“We are having trouble getting corral panels and gates because of being back ordered, so I have been having to switch buyers,” Sailors said.
She said availability of their smaller auto products like motor oil and antifreeze is supposed to improve, but it still hasn’t arrived.
“I guess there are shipper problems, a shortage of workers and delays in product availability,” she said.
“We’re doing our best, but the problem is beyond us,” said Sailors.
Troxell’s Heating & Appliance has been seeing more delays in shipments now than during the worst of the COVID pandemic, said Michelle Troxell.
Manufacturers are short on workers, and freight shipments for the larger appliances are only coming in every two weeks instead of every week due to a shortage of drivers, she said.
“Wiring harnesses and control board chips have no movement at all because they are shipped from overseas,” Troxell said. Incoming parts are slow and  new appliances are all but halted.
“I am being told from corporate that there is no timeline opening up for shipments. They are pausing on higher end appliances,” she said.
The focus is on traditional style appliances that can be built quicker for now, she added.
“Unfortunately, we just have to go with the flow because we have no control over the situation,” said Troxell.
Troxells will be offering rebates for some appliances starting around Thanksgiving continuing through the end of the year, she said.
“We’re trying to keep stuff on the floor and keep the doors open,” she added.
According to experts, manufacturing bottlenecks and shipping delays have resulted in cargo piling up not only in port terminals but also in rail yards and warehouses.
Some local businesses are seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
Amanda Keneipp, manager at Pizza Hut, said they aren’t having near the problems as before.
“Most of our supplies are from Pizza Hut so we don’t have too much trouble getting shipments. But some other companies, like Pepsi, are seeing some delays,” Keneipp said.
Overall, she said they aren’t sitting to bad.
509 Broadway has not been having too many shipping problems right now.
“Some products are delayed in arriving. Coffee supplies like paper goods are very slow and frequently out of stock,” said manager Shelby Jutten.
They will be having some sales on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, said Jutten.
Economists expect shipping problems to linger well into 2022 because shipping backups at big U.S. ports are not likely to resolve themselves soon.
Several business owners commented that hometown businesses are doing all they can to make products available to their local customers.