Furniture Retailers Grapple with Increased Consumer Demand and Manufacturing Delays Resulting from COVID
Eager consumers face lengthy order delays for new furniture due to supply chain disruptions at nearly every point from raw material supply to manufacturing to shipping.
Daytona Beach, United States – March 29, 2021 /MarketersMedia/ —
Daytona Beach, Florida – Downtown Used Furniture, Daytona Beach’s largest retailer of quality used furniture and accessories, navigates the evolving landscape of an industry continuing to suffer the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of increased consumer demand and manufacturing backlogs have resulted in new furniture order lead times of eight to twelve weeks. Consumers and retailers look for relief as lengthy order delays continue.
Consumer demand for furniture, furnishings, and household items is booming in a time when large segments of the population are forced to adjust to new work-from-home trends. Whether voluntary or compulsory, working from home has forced many to look at their home space as a place that can be productive in addition to comfortable.
Some homes already had dedicated office space, but most people had to improvise setting up their workspace, including desks, file space, computers, and printers. Widespread lockdowns forced people to stay at home nearly continuously. With all the extra time spent at home, people are considering what to do to improve their living spaces and furniture is a big part of what creates a comfortable home environment.
In the wake of COVID, furniture manufacturers’ capacities have been severely reduced due to short-staffed situations, and in some cases plants were forced to shut down completely. Many employees have been reluctant to return to work due to safety concerns.
The COVID pandemic has left many companies with tough decisions to make. One of the highest-stakes decisions is whether or not a manufacturing plant should be reopened. It’s been shut down since the pandemic began and now it might be time for a decision. The process is slow and complicated, as there are new health and safety precautions that must be met before employees can return to work. Even more concerning is if some workers tested positive for the virus because they may have to go through lengthy quarantine periods in order to keep others from being infected.
The latest ripple effect in the market has been from supplier shortages. These shortages are being felt not just by manufacturers of products but also by their suppliers who can’t keep up with demand due to excessive order delays, which then limits the ability of these same companies to fulfill orders. Raw material shortages, allocations, and price increases go hand-in-hand and consumers ultimately pay the price.
In the early part of 2021, the availability of shipping containers for ocean-going freight is critically short. Orders delayed due to the aforementioned causes may be further delayed when shipping containers are in limited supply. This is causing prices to rise sharply on goods being shipped as companies pay premium prices to ship their products.
Logistics and safety issues with delivery delays, price increases, and possible public-area exposure to coronavirus require that customer communications set clear expectations for their clientele who may be reluctant in the wake of this recent pandemic.
Proactive store owners have had to seek advice from the CDC and other business support organizations, such as the SBA, local Chambers of Commerce, industry and trade associations for guidance on safely reopening retail stores.
The idea of shopping by appointment only was the first step towards achieving a contact-free experience. Curbside pick-up service helped to achieve contactless shopping when product delivery services were unavailable due to quarantine measures. Local governments frequently limited shoppers’ access to stores during this time period. This process helped to limit customer and staff interaction, which is an important factor in reducing potential coronavirus spread.
The sight of bare, empty rooms is enough to make any consumer want new furniture. Unfortunately, the wait times are not looking up anytime soon; buyers will have to exercise patience if they intend on buying a fresh set for their home or office in the near future. Typical lead times for new furniture are eight to twelve weeks, and this doesn’t look like a problem that will be quickly solved.
Furniture has always been an important part of creating and maintaining your living space. Buyers unwilling to wait for delivery of new furniture can consider shopping for quality clean used furniture. Used furniture stores, estate sales, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist may all be viable shopping options.
If you want to learn more about Downtown Used Furniture or browse their catalog, visit their website at https://downtownusedfurniture.com.
About Downtown Used Furniture:
Downtown Used Furniture is Daytona Beach’s largest retailer of quality furniture and accessories for home, office, condo, or rental units. Its 16,000 square foot showroom is fully stocked with furniture of all styles. They serve Florida’s Volusia and Flagler counties.
Contact Info:
Name: Terry Keeley
Email: Send Email
Organization: Downtown Used Furniture
Address: 1041 Mason Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32117
Phone: 386-239-9884
Website: https://downtownusedfurniture.com/
Source: MarketersMedia
Release ID: 89003014
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