Virus, weather slow furniture deliveries
Why it might take 120 days to get that new dining room set.
Those who ordered furniture in the past year have faced monthslong delays brought on by various pandemic-related factors and further worsened by a winter storm.
With Americans spending more time than ever before in their homes during the pandemic, demand for furniture and mattresses has far outpaced supply, nearing an all-time high as consumers invested in interior upgrades, according to Andy Counts, CEO for the American Home Furnishings Alliance, a trade association for U.S. furniture manufacturers and importers.
“Unfortunately, the furniture industry was not deemed an essential business at the federal or state level, so the retailers as well as most factories shut down,” Counts told the Dayton Daily News. “The industry didn’t really get back to business, even though there was huge demand, until May of 2020.”
When it did reopen, the industry was forced to live off existing supplies and customers turned to online retailers, boosting some companies bottom lines — and stock prices — for a short period of time, Counts said.
Then came labor shortages caused by manufacturers either reducing the amount of staffing to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines in their facilities or shutting down production lines when an outbreak occurred, he said.
“With many parts and products sourced from overseas facilities, many American manufacturers have seen delays of up to 120 days getting much needed supplies to complete production,” said Robert Klaben, vice president of communications for Morris Furniture Co. “A shortage of delivery drivers and shipping containers has also created delays to consumers.”
Morris Home Furniture & Mattress and Ashley HomeStore showrooms are working with their vendor partners to fill customer orders, Klaben said.
“While we try to give our customers an accurate expected arrival date at the time of pur
chase, circumstances beyond our control have impacted these dates,” he said. “One of our manufacturing partners was forced to close an entire production line last year due to a COVID outbreak, resulting in 35,000 fewer pieces of furniture being produced each week. Others have had to push back delivery due to the nonavailability of the fabric on one of our most popular sofas.”
Delays of up to five months were common prior to February, Counts said, and supply chains were slowly getting back to normal. Then a winter storm slammed into Texas and Louisiana and shut down several plants in both states that produce chemicals needed for the polyurethane foam essential to upholstered furniture.
With the start-up process the most dangerous part of those plants rebooting, all pipes must be carefully evaluated to ensure there are no leaks, he said.
“They’re just now starting to get back and start it up and ... there’s more than just furniture foam that they’re providing chemicals for,” Counts said. “There’s a huge backlog on plastics and other things that are being impacted.”
In addition, the furniture industry is a “very global” one, he said. About 90% of all wooden furniture and 50% of upholstered furniture comes from outside of the United States.
Also, a great deal of the components that go into domestic products are imported.
“With the port situation, the container ship situation, lack of containers, all that’s been a huge drag on the industry as well,” Counts said.
A proverbial light does appear to be at the end of the tunnel, Klaben said. Morris Furniture Co. is seeing increases in the number of arriving deliveries from its vendors, he said.
It also has added a second shift in its distribution center to expedite delivery of furniture and mattresses once received from its manufacturers.
“Because of the length of time it will take for everyone who wants a vaccine to get a vaccine, we expect the demand for furniture to continue to be at near record levels through the end of 2021,” Klaben said.
“If you think you may want new dining furniture for Thanksgiving gatherings, don’t wait until October. We suggest starting your pre-shopping at least 120 days before you want your new furniture in your home.”