3 votes

Cape Cod businesses struggle to find T-shirts, hats amid shortage

3 comments

  1. [2]
    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    They could just buy domestic product instead... I get that their whole business model is based on gouging people to buy an overpriced shirt/hoodie/cheaply-made-product that says "Cape Cod" on it,...

    “We’re seeing issues with businesses, both big and small, that are having difficulty getting products to the market,” Gold said. “It starts overseas with the foreign factories [...]

    They could just buy domestic product instead...

    I get that their whole business model is based on gouging people to buy an overpriced shirt/hoodie/cheaply-made-product that says "Cape Cod" on it, but it would seem better to have product that's perhaps a couple of bucks more expensive than none at all. A quick look at images from inside their store on Google Maps shows they were selling pretty standard hoodies with the branding on them for $33 in 2015, so they're probably closer to $36 today. Bump it up to an even $40 and buy an USA made hoodie.

    A friend of mine just ordered 50,000 shirts and hoodies to be screen printed at her job for a sports team client. Like everyone else she checked the overseas suppliers first, found that they couldn't promise a delivery date that would allow time to get them screen printed and shipped to her client before deadline. Looked for USA made supplier, they were $2 more expensive on a per item average basis and she'd have them all within a week of ordering, overseas suppliers said 8 week minimum. Quoted the team $3 higher than normal per item and they didn't even balk, just straight approved the purchase order. The order will be printed and can be sent to her client before the overseas stuff would likely even be on the boat.

    This Cape Cod business can throw their hands up and blame covid or they can take a step back and realize it's their own damn fault for not seeing the obvious, listening to people who said the supply chains would be screwed, and doing something about it. You can guess which one they're doing...

    7 votes
    1. skybrian
      Link Parent
      That's a good example with your friend, but I don't think the article tells us enough to judge what random other businesses did? We don't know how much they've looked around or what else they did...

      That's a good example with your friend, but I don't think the article tells us enough to judge what random other businesses did? We don't know how much they've looked around or what else they did to adapt.

      1 vote
  2. skybrian
    Link
    From the article: [...]

    From the article:

    Despite Walker placing larger orders this year, Cuffy stores are running out of summer merchandise and are starting to put out apparel in colors more associated with fall.

    [...]

    The shortages and delays will likely continue well into 2022, Gold said, and are currently being worsened by another issue.

    “We're now entering peak shipping season, which for retailers is when they bring in all their holiday merchandise for the fourth quarter, which is the holiday season, which is going to make it or break it for retailers,” Gold said. “So, a lot of companies now are trying to move up at peak season, which is going to continue to give back the congestion.”