Where’s My Sofa and Refrigerator?
Anyone who has tried to buy anything home related in the past year has run into seriously long lead times that we are just not accustomed to. It is beyond frustrating!
Appliances are taking over 6 months to receive and upholstery items have been hit especially hard. What is going on?
There are several factor impacting the home industry that created a perfect storm of slowwww.
1) Foam Shortage
An ice storm in February shut down all 5 US plants that produce a chemical needed in foam, and they were out of commission for 6 weeks. Once back in production, the global demand for furniture, cars and other items using foam was unprecedented. The supply is starting to get better but demand is still very, very high.
2) Labor Shortage
The US hub for the furniture industry in North Carolina has not been able to hire sufficiently for the demand they are facing. Even when foam does come in, the backlog of orders that have been waiting for months means a huge workload and not enough workers to fill the need.
Freight companies are also short staffed. Once the long wait for your custom sofa is finally over, it could be picked up by a carrier, only to sit for 3-4 weeks before the truck leaves their lot. More frustration!
3) Shipping Container Storage
Let's say you don't want to wait for custom; retailers have stopped selling off their floors since they know they will have to wait a while to replenish. Any item made overseas will take longer to receive now since shipping containers are so scarce. Many are stacking up for weeks on end in ports, still waiting to be unloaded, and they can't be returned to overseas until that happens. The labor shortage is also affecting this. It's a vicious reinforcing cycle that would make even the most patient person want to punch something!
4) High Demand
After sitting in our homes for the past 18 months, we collectively looked around and didn't like what we saw. Poorly functioning spaces, or a need for more quiet areas for work and school created a desire for change. And, we are flush with cash after not being able to travel or dine out much.
Extreme supply chain shortages + unprecedented demand = a perfect storm for crazy lead times that have never been experienced before (at least in my lifetime).
I'm not sure when things will get better, so here are some tips for surviving it:
Plan very far ahead. Expect 6 months for custom upholstery. There are companies making pieces faster though, and we can help direct you to them.
Consider reupholstery. Older furniture is well made and can look incredible with the right fabric. You will only wait 4-6 weeks for this option. If you don't have a piece you want to work with, all the people buying new are selling their old ones! Check out FB Marketplace, Craigslist or local consignment shops. We love Velvet Shoestring in Wayne, PA and ReDecor in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Put it in perspective. We got used to Amazon Prime next day delivery and being able to walk into a store and buy what we need. It's hard to accept these lead times in our fast paced world. But, careful planning and deliberate purchases for high value items that are meant to last years is important. Try to remember that you want to be enjoying this purchase 10 years from now. Good interior design means you won't have to do this again for a long time.
This too shall pass! And hopefully in the meantime, you and your family are safe, healthy, and happy.