With life starting to have some semblance of normalcy, home projects have either been waylaid for the weekend for DIY-ers or picked up speed for contractors. One aspect that may further hinder completion is supply chains for products.
Mark Sopel, owner of Barnes True Value, 132 W. Main St. and Edmore True Value, 418 E. Main St., said that his store has felt the pains of the pandemic when it comes to stocking his stores’ shelves. It started in the spring when several residents were home more due to layoffs and deciding to tackle some do-it-yourself projects. Many homeowners came into the store looking to paint or get their gardens started.
“Another big thing (in sales) like bike tires and tubes, are out of stock,” Sopel said. “Everyone is digging out bikes and getting them ready.”
He added that for every order cycle the store submits for inventory, there are normally 30 items that need to be restocked but he currently has more than 300 items that are on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Sopel added that his store in Carson City also carries appliances that he has seen a spike in sales, especially for freezers. He attributes it to families purchasing larger meat portions due to disruptions in meat processing and a subsequent increase in cost. He also said that manufacturers like GE shutting down or working on a reduced scale has affected his ability to stock other appliances like washers and dryers.
Earlier this year in spring, Sopel said they could not keep mulch or rototillers in stock. He said once rototillers were sold, there were not others coming in because warehouses overseas were closed.
With people spending more time at home and also not frequenting restaurants, grills have been a hot commodity this year. Along with cooking at home more often, families also want comfort when spending time outdoors. Patio sets have been flying off the shelves.
“We are selling a lot of outdoor furniture,” Sopel said. “So much of that outdoor furniture comes from China, so there is not a lot to be reordered right now. Stuff that eventually comes in will be too late for our season.”
Recent heatwaves have also prompted homeowners to purchase hoses and sprinklers. Add into that, homeowners who never gardened in the past and those items are fast sellers also.
Despite some hiccups along the way, Sopel said they have been able to meet their customers’ needs and he added that they have been understanding when it comes to delays in availability. A bonus to people staying closer to home is that Sopel has met new customers who prefer to avoid big-box stores and the long lines that come with them.
Along with weekend warriors, contractors are back in business and they too are facing some challenges when it comes to having all of their needs met. Ken Lehman is the president of Big L Corporation with locations in Sheridan, Greenville, Clarksville and Stanwood, and he said that like most retailers, their stores have dealt with issues with supply meeting demand.
He said that almost every product they offer their customers have been affected, it is lumber-related products that have taken the brunt of the supply issues. More than anything else, decking products have been hard to come by.
“Five-quarter decking is very commonly used today,” Lehman said. “A lot of that manufacturing was shut down so that supply has been really hard hit to get back up and operational.”
Initially, when the state shut down, Big L closed temporarily until they learned they were deemed an essential business. Still observing precautions, they reduced their hours and this cut down on the demand for products because there were no walk-in customers. Once contractors returned full-force, Lehman said demand increased dramatically.
Lehman mentioned that Big L has a long history and alliances with several manufacturers so they have been able to provide products to their customers. It has, however, affected turn around time.
“There are many products like roof trusses where there is normally a two-week lead time and now there is a three to four-week lead time. Those are things that are manufactured right here in the States.”
Lehman added that part of the increased demand for lumber products is a lack of housing in the area. With an increase in new builds and demand for the products to complete those products, there is a price increase. Lehman said that he has seen some lumber products increase their prices by 30 to 40 percent. Some people will be priced out of building and thus decrease demand and thus continues to supply-demand cycle.
Lehman’s father founded Big L Corporation so he has seen a lot of changes throughout the years. He said that they got through the housing recession, which hit locally starting around 2005 and said that the current state of business is just another challenge to overcome. He attributes this to his staff.
“Our very dedicated employees are dealing with all of these issues and I couldn’t be prouder.”
