Skip to main content

Brits warned to buy Christmas toys now to avoid empty shelves

// Importers have warned Brits to buy Christmas toys now to avoid shortages
// Shipping order delays have raised fears over gaps on shelves later this year

Shopping orders are being delayed by some importers who hope that freight costs will subside, as costs have threatened to sustain inflation.

The delays have raised fears over gaps on shelves later this year.

Toy importers are now warning parents to get their Christmas shopping done early as soaring shipping costs risk price rises and empty shelves.


READ MORE: Gov’t announces new plans to tackle lorry driver shortage


Freight costs have increased in the last year and are threatening to sustain inflation far beyond the effects of reopening.

On Wednesday, Barbie-maker Mattel warned it would have to raise prices in the coming months due to higher costs.

Earlier this week, rival Hasbro warned it expected sea freight costs to be an average of four times higher this year than in 2020.

Covid-19 restrictions are slowing loading and unloading, which has led to blockages at several ports in the US and Asia.

Moreover, problems have been worsened by a shortage of HGV drivers across the UK, which senior managers have warned could lead to shortages around peak times.

CBI has called for lorry drivers to be added to Britain’s skills shortages list.

Earlier this month, the government unveiled plans to help tackle the mounting lorry driver crisis, including easing driver qualification requirements and improved working conditions.

Ministers announced a consultation to allow drivers to take one test to drive both articulated and rigid lorries as part of a package of measures.

The logistics industry, which retailers – especially grocers – rely on to transport goods to stores or warehouses, is facing an estimated shortfall of around 100,000 HGV drivers due to the Covid-19 pandemic and following Brexit.

In an open letter to the sector, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey and Environment Secretary George Eustice pledged to support recruitment and retention in the industry.

Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter

The post Brits warned to buy Christmas toys now to avoid empty shelves appeared first on Retail Gazette.



from Retail Gazette https://ift.tt/2WvXYyt
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eagle Labs launches impirica CBD brand

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Eagle Labs has launched impirica, a new brand of CBD intended to eliminate consumer fear, and increase confidence, in trying the exciting new cannabidiol category. Michael Law Although most Americans have now heard about CBD, many are very confused and concerned about product quality. This is inhibiting trial in the category and holding back conversion into sales. In fact, a 2017 study by Johns Hopkins University found that two out of three CBD products on the shelf did not contain the amount of CBD reflected on the label. Furthermore, in 2018 and 2019, the FDA sent notices to a substantial number of CBD manufacturers advising them of serious concerns about product quality or egregious medical claims. The impirica brand looks different than most CBD brands — the brand name itself connotes testing and trust, says Eagle Labs chief commercial officer Michael Law. “It doesn’t use the traditional category colors of browns and greens, and you won’t find a hemp...

Sagar Daryani, CEO and Co-founder – Wow! Momo & Saga: From a Kiosk to a Kingdom

Sagar Daryani’s entrepreneurial odyssey from humble beginnings to pioneering success has redefined the landscape of food startups in India. Co-founding Wow! Momo, he has spearheaded the growth of the largest indigenous QSR chain in the country, crafting a remarkable saga of triumph The Genesis: A Visionary Venture Takes Root In 2008, armed with a mere Rs. 30,000 and boundless ambition, Sagar Daryani and Binod Homagai embarked on their entrepreneurial journey while still pursuing their graduation in B.Com Hons from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, even before their college results were out. They knew the value for money and boot-strapped to plough back profits and grow their venture. Sagar spearheaded brand expansion, brand creation, and marketing and retail operations. Grew across the city with a strong consumer focus. The early days were hard but keeping track of the money flow was even harder. Believing in the concept of ‘1 rupee saved is 5 rupees earned’, and the lessons they lear...

Homegrown ice cream chain HOCCO to open 250 stores, eyes Rs 400 crore by FY26

Ankit Chona, Founder and Managing Director of HOCCO, delves into the company’s revenue model, growth strategies, and vision for the future… Bengaluru: HOCCO (House of Chonas Collaborative) , the Ahmedabad-based ice cream and quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain, boasts a rich legacy spanning over 70 years, with roots tracing back to pre-independence India. The Chona family has been deeply entrenched in the food industry since 1944, originally operating in undivided Pakistan. Following the Partition, Satish Chona , an engineer with British Overseas Airways Corporation, relocated from Karachi to India. After journeying through multiple cities, he ultimately settled in Ahmedabad, where he established his first QSR outlet in 1953. Three decades later, he expanded into the casual dining segment, launching a restaurant in Baroda while continuing the family’s ice cream manufacturing business. However, in 2017, the company sold its ice cream division to a South Korean firm, shifting its fo...