'Totally different': Shipping problems expected to impact Edmonton holiday shoppers
With more than two months to go before Christmas, shoppers are being warned to buy early to avoid high prices and fewer options – due to supply chain problems and increased shipping costs.
“Generally speaking there will be enough product...the thing to be aware of is that the product might be more expensive,” Heather Thompson, with the University of Alberta School of Business, said.
Many stores are counting on 2021 to help them rebound from pandemic slowdowns, but staffing shortages at major ports and in the trucking industry have retailers worried, Thompson said.
“This is the time of year for retailers... most retailers will do close to a third of their business at this time of year,” she pointed out.
Winter tires, electronics and books are on the list of things in short supply.
At a west Edmonton tire shop Thursday, a truck driver fighting to keep supplies moving said companies are hiring.
“We are desperate for people, it doesn’t matter from dock workers to whatever, we’re desperate for people. Bodies! That can pass drug tests!” Kim Wigley said with a chuckle.
The global problem was also affecting Audrey’s Books on Jasper Ave.
“Containers are in short supply and very expensive, and vessels to carry them are booked heavily,” owner Steve Budnarchuk said.
“These are small incremental delays that are going to add up to a totally different season,” he said, adding if you’re looking for something specific, you should go early.
That was the same advice at Mastermind Toys - where staff said customers have already been stocking up for Christmas.
“We have seen 4 times the sales of advent calendars at this point compared to last year, and so to me that is a really good indication of customers preparing early,” Susan Anderson said.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Bob Cole, veteran CBC broadcaster and former voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada,' dead at 90
Bob Cole, legendary CBC broadcaster and former voice of Hockey Night in Canada, has died. He was 90.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.