Summer supply shortage hits as Americans seek to enjoy the outdoors

Jul 16, 2021 at 08:47 AM CDT

summer supply shortage

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A summer supply shortage is making it difficult for Americans to enjoy the outdoors. Purchasing a bike, patio furniture, or chlorine tablets for pools has been harder than normal. So what’s behind the supply chain delays?

Tags: Society at Large

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JIMMIE JOHNSON: SUMMER IS USUALLY THE TIME TO GET OUTDOORS, SWIM, CHILL OR WORK UP A SWEAT, BUT THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT. OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT IS HARD TO COME BY.

SO, WHY IS THERE A SUMMER SHORTAGE?

I TOOK THAT QUESTION TO THIS LOCAL BIKE SHOP.

MANAGEMENT TELLS ME DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THIS RACK IS NORMALLY FULLY STOCKED WITH BICYCLES, BUT HE SAYS IT’S UNCLEAR WHEN THE NEXT BIKE MAY ROLL IN.

THIS ISN’T JUST A PROBLEM FOR BIKE SHOPS, THIS IS A PROBLEM HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY A NEW BICYCLE COMES THROUGH THE DOORS AT THIS BICYCLE SHOP.

JAMIE SCHMIDT: The spring 2021 bikes were ordered last August. We received about a third of them and they’re long gone.

JIMMIE: OWNER JAMIE SCHMIDT SAYS A LOT OF BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE EXPERIENCED DELAYS.

JAMIE SCHMIDT: We’re still in a situation where the demand exceeds the supply.

JIMMIE: THE SAME GOES FOR OUTDOOR PATIO FURNITURE. DELAYS HAVE BEEN TIED TO A SHORTAGE OF RAW MATERIALS SUCH AS FOAM, FABRIC, WOOD, AND FREIGHT.

ONE EXAMPLE, THE WINTER FREEZE IN TEXAS WHICH SLOWED DOWN THE PRODUCTION OF FOAM.

FURNITURE COMPANIES ALSO SAY SUPPLIES THEY USUALLY ORDER FROM CHINA NORMALLY TAKE FOUR WEEKS TO ARRIVE.

ITEMS ARE NOW TAKING THREE TO FOUR TIMES LONGER TO BE DELIVERED.

COMPANIES ARE TELLING ME THE ISSUE IS NOT MANUFACTURING.

OVERSEES VENDORS ARE SHIPPING THE PRODUCTS.

THE DELAY IS AT OUR PORTS. ONCE CARGO CONTAINERS REACH PORTS, THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THEY WILL BE DELIVERED TO STORE WAREHOUSES.

ECONOMISTS SAY IT’S DUE TO A WIDELY REPORTED SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS.

ANOTHER SHORTAGE, CHLORINE TABLETS.

ONE OF THE LARGEST MANUFACTURERS OF THE CHEMICAL THAT KEEPS POOLS CLEAN SAYS THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING UP WITH THE HIGH DEMAND DUE TO A FIRE AT ONE OF ITS PLANTS.

BACK AT THE BICYCLE SHOP.

SCHMIDT: 22-years in business next month and we’re going to keep plugging away.

JIMMIE: SCHMIDT SAYS HIS TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO SERVICE CLIENTS AS BEST AS THEY CAN UNTIL THE GLOBAL MARKET REBOUNDS.

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