It's too early to talk about Christmas, well for me anyway, but quite a few people I'm hearing have started or even mostly done their present shopping and some are making cupboard and freezer space for seasonal foods.....just in case! I don't start mine until at least 1st December and then it can be a bit of a rush but I like it that way.
The reason for the early stocking is the UK media reporting on
businesses statements warning of shortages through supply chain
difficulties and lack of trained (and willing?) staff. I know first hand
about one major UK retailer's internal predictions looking forward
eighteen months, because our son is in the management chain there, and
they are not very reassuring. I think I read that Amazon was saying
pretty much the same.
I blame government policy and (mis)management of same for many of the
problems but I know it's a small world and global issues are
exacerbating the situation. For my own small part I was told last week
that supplies of raw rattan in certain sizes from Indonesia were not
currently available through our UK import source and no indication of
timeline. I contacted a company in Holland which I've used before and
they told me much the same in fact they don't anticipate a shipment in
the sizes I seek until some time in the new year, they couldn't say
which month!
A worrying time all round and with prices rising daily and shortages
predicted, maybe I should break out of my casual lethargy and make some
space for Christmas goodies after all. As for all those bottoms which
need the sort of discipline which my products provide, well I'm ok for a
couple of months but after that I'm not too sure.
Stay safe.
Have a fun weekend.
Ronnie
xx
