’Twas three weeks before Christmas and all through the land, barely an outdoor LED light was anywhere to be had. Wholesalers are reporting a shortage of battery-operated outdoor lights as communities across Ireland make an extra effort to decorate their trees, gardens and homes.
Eoin Fitzpatrick, of Fitzpatrick Wholesale, which supplies products to independent retailers and hardware shops, said the demand for Christmas lights had come much earlier in the season than in previous years.
Despite increasing his annual order by up to 33%, Fitzpatrick’s warehouse was out of outdoor lights last week. An order of 5,000 sets was due to arrive from Europe this weekend.
“The first week in December is usually when everyone puts up their trees, and peak demand is after that,”
