Toys may sell out earlier this year due to supply chain issues – Canadian Toy Association

TORONTO — The Canadian Toy Association has advised Canadian consumers to shop earlier for holiday toys this season due to anticipated inventory shortages resulting from global supply chain issues.“There have been tremendous challenges faced by toy manufacturers shipping their products to Canada from manufacturing facilities overseas,” said Andrew Wagar, President and CEO of the Canadian Toy Association, in a company press release.

“These challenges include rising container and shipping costs, limited supplies of cargo ships to transport goods, rising ground transportation costs and other supply chain issues. These issues are being experienced worldwide and are resulting in inventory shortages at retail. If there’s a must have item on your child’s wish list, we are encouraging all Canadian families to shop earlier for toys this year, and to not wait until late November or December, to ensure that you’ll be able to deliver on those coveted gifts you and your child desire.”

Packaged goods manufacturers from all around the world have reported supply chain issues. Toy companies currently face shipping price increases ranging from 500 to 800 per cent which has had a dramatic impact on the industry, most notably the hundreds of small to mid-sized companies which make up a large percentage of the market.

Toy companies also face rising costs for cargo and trucking brought on by detention, demurrage, and increases in transit times of 75 days or more. All this has resulted in significant delays in deliveries to retail stores for sale. As a result, it is anticipated that in-store availability of certain items may be tighter than in previous years, particularly in late November and December when toy sales peak.

“Every year there are certain hot toys that sell-out quickly and are hard to find, and this year they may be even harder to find as they may sell out quickly and experience delays being replenished,” cautioned Wagar.

“Consumers have also become conditioned to wait for last minute holiday season sales, but these sales may not come, or will be harder to find, this year. Parents that plan ahead, shop early, and don’t wait until the last minute should have no problems getting all the items their children want. Shopping the two to four weeks just before Christmas is typically stressful and challenging, and at times for certain items, expensive, and this year will be no exception. So shop early this year and take advantage of the inventory supply when it is strong and avoid the line-ups, shortages and prices that may lie ahead.”