CODY, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – “Shop Local” is a rallying cry for small towns, aiming to build up businesses at home, rather than lose money to larger shopping centers. But transportation issues, labor shortages and global politics have made it difficult for retail stores and other industries to meet the demands of their hometown customers.
Sarah Growney owns The Thistle, a gift shop in Cody. She said many of the items she would normally carry around this time of year just haven’t arrived yet.
“I ordered everything for Christmas in January,” she reported. “It was the absolute earliest I was able to order. But a lot of the Christmas decor items, things like that – they’re still sitting in freight containers on the ocean. I haven’t received a single Christmas tree, including for my own shop; so we’re like the shop without a Christmas tree. It’s a little sad.”
Growney said even locally made products are delayed, because of the reliance on supplies from other parts of the country.
“This is an American made candle, it’s out of Sheridan, Wyoming,” she demonstrated. “It’s great. But even though it’s American made, they’re still delayed because they can’t get their glass.”
The supply issues are having negative effects on all businesses, from retail stores to the auto industry. Bert Miller is the general manager for Denny Menholt auto sales in Cody. He said their ability to sell vehicles has been hampered by circumstances halfway around the world.
“We’ve got a lot of cars that are built, but they’re waiting for their microprocessors, which has slowed things up dramatically,” Miller explained. “And so that’s why you see our lot is short about 100 new vehicles.”
And although they are selling some vehicles, Miller noted that delivery for many customers is delayed significantly.
“You know, normal sold orders will take maybe 60 days,” he said. “And now we’re looking at about four months with the shipping and everything impacting it.”
But businesses are trying to stay positive, despite the obstacles.
“Fortunately, we carry a little bit of something for everyone, so the shop is plentiful,” Growney said. “But I know what we’re missing. We’re going to have a great Christmas, but it’s frustrating.”
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