The supply-chain problems that arose from the pandemic – causing brands and retailers to be understocked and otherwise inhibit their ability to meet customer demand – are still unsolved, forcing them to brace for round two of “Shippageddon,” Forbes writes.
For starters, the price of shipping containers has skyrocketed in 2021, and costs are expected to continue rising. Salesforce is predicting that companies will spend even more on ocean freight in the second half of the year than they did for the second half of 2020.
The article also says UPS will impose surcharges on the largest shippers, on account of delivery demand exceeding capacity to the tune of 5 million packages per day. Likewise, the U.S. Postal Service is seeking a peak-season rate increase for brands and retailers.
Then there’s Amazon and the changes the company has made in 2021, including new limitations on inventory storage. These moves have made it more difficult for sellers to gauge how much inventory they have and keep from going out-of-stock.
The article highlights ways in which companies are trying to work out the kinks in their supply chains, but for the most part, “it will be another year of simply muddling through the fourth quarter.”
Read more at Forbes.
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Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
