The empty-shelf challenge

By Tim Burke

Landon Garner, third generation owner of Rogers, Ark.-based Garner Building Supply and Rental, which has served Northwest Arkansas for 65 years, related, “We are having to project forecasts earlier than we normally would.”

He said their company is leaning on and, “trusting those industry relationships we have cultivated for years with our buying groups.”

Cody Miller, inventory maintenance specialist at Hartville Hardware, located in Hartville, Ohio, explained what he’s seeing: “In general, manufacturing is not able to keep up with demand mainly because of shortages in the workforce. Also, a lot of our suppliers are not able to get basic materials because of shortages and/or they are on allocation.”

The other issues are at the ports.

“There is a container shortage due to many ships waiting at ports, waiting to be unloaded, but there is nowhere for those containers to go,” Miller said.

Explaining supply chain issues with your hardware customers, and letting them see the whole picture, helps.

“We are trying to be as transparent and honest as possible with our customers about what is going on,” explained Miller.

One example is with exterior doors and windows, he mentioned. “We’ll tell customers upfront about the challenges in the industry and that they could be looking at a 12- to 16-week lead time, compared to a 2- to 4-week lead time in years past.”

The other thing Hartville does, Miller said, is work hard to find alternatives for the customer.

If a customer comes in looking for a certain product that they cannot get at that time, he explained, they ask ‘what else do we have for them that can fulfill their need?’

Garner, who has been a True Value dealer for more than 40 years, indicated that it comes down to communication.

Diversity Drives Performance

Celebrating Women in Building

Flexibility – Our multi-billion dollar purchasing power helps you play in a competitive market, but we are personal enough to respond to your specifi c needs. Experience – Our breadth of industry knowledge and passion for your success lead us to work tirelessly on your behalf. Transparency – We are accountable to our members and believe that transparency builds trust, creates solutions, and accomplishes goals.

LBM Advantage

Better. Stronger. Together.

Our Mission: To create a competitive advantage for our members by leveraging their collective power.

www.lbmadvantage.com | 866-629-4141

Empty shelves, like these at a hardware store in the Midwest, are happening due to ongoing supply challenges that some owners feel will continue well into 2022.

“Contact them throughout the process with updates and continue to do so until delivery.”

Another area is how shortages affect products on the shelves.

“Sometimes our shelves just haven’t been as full, since so many of our lead times have been extended,” said Cindy Kandel, divisional merchandising manager at Hartville Hardware.

They have also been faced with an unprecedented amount of price changes. “This means we are all paying more for items at checkout.”

The Garner Hardware owner indicated there are product shortages on shelves, but added, “this far into the game, customers understand.”

Hardware store buyers today are investigating alternative suppliers, for instance from North America.

Kandel said she has, “absolutely brought in new product lines that are made in other countries than China. Many of my flooring vendors have begun to manufacture product lines in the U.S.

“We, as a company, want to support that kind of investment in products that bring manufacturing back to the United States. We hope that it will stabilize prices, as well.”

Garner has studied the possibility of finding other suppliers closer to home. “We have,” he said, but indicated he’s finding that raw material shortages are still the issue.

“Even if we could get product ‘Made in America’, which would be great, the manufacturers are struggling to obtain the materials to make products,” he pointed out.

Garner felt that the supply challenges will last through 2022. But he hopes to see an easing of allocations and product availability before then.

Finding a way to work through this, seems to be the overall feeling.

“Look for alternatives, when possible,” Miller concluded. “Give your customers another option. Be honest with your customers about the issues, not as an excuse, but so they know you are on their side and are working for them.”