KSL INVESTIGATES
How global supply chain hiccups can impact your holiday shopping this year
SALT LAKE CITY — We’re not even into October yet, but already supply chain hiccups are threatening to foil plans for the holiday shopping season.
Experts are already warning that waiting until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to start shopping could put parents in a bind this year.
“On one hand, it does seem really early to be starting Christmas shopping,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for CreditCards.com. “I mean, we’re a little more than 100 days out.”
But on the other hand, Rossman said not shopping early may have consumers missing out on the perfect gift.
He has been studying the ongoing creep of Christmas coming earlier and earlier.
While retailers competing for business is an annual holiday tradition, getting a jump this year may have some real merits for Santa’s helpers.
“A lot of people are nervous about shipping delays,” Rossman said.
Supply chain issues have been widely reported during the pandemic and have left everything from store shelves to car lots bare.
Rossman said some of the most popular Christmas wishlist items are especially concerning this season.
Video game consoles could be in short supply this holiday season, according to experts. (KSL TV)
“Video games are a category that I’m especially worried about,” he said. “The games themselves. The consoles — these are really hot holiday gifts that are going to be in short supply this year.”
Really any toy or electronic could see trouble as they tend to rely on so many other companies delivering parts.
All it takes is one getting behind for it to throw the whole system out of whack.
Shopping early could also have a financial benefit, according to Rossman.
“I think retailers will offer good discounts, probably starting somewhere in that late October to early November time frame,” he said. “That’s what we saw last year. It’s not so much about Black Friday or Cyber Monday anymore.”
According to a survey from CreditCards.com, about a quarter of holiday shoppers are going to start before September 30.
Another quarter say they are going to start Christmas shopping in October.
That’s half of Americans shopping for Christmas before Halloween.
