Prices of seemingly everything are going up.
Delays in arrival of products and materials/components have been going on for over a year now but also seem to be increasing.
The shipping delays are in part due to a shortage of workers (which is largely due to losing people—temporarily, long-term, or permanently—to COVID) but also because of containers.
Climbing Daddy listened to a podcast about this and filled me in. I thought it was interesting, so I’ll give you my summary of his summary of the podcast summary. (I haven’t listened to the episode.)
Apparently because PPE was needed literally everywhere, shipping containers went places they don’t typically go. But because there aren’t many deliveries in some of those areas, the containers haven’t all been picked back up, so there aren’t enough to accommodate the current shipping demands.
Huh. Interesting.
While it’s always a good time to support small, local businesses, now seems like a better time than ever to do it. Use the shipping delays as your motivation or excuse.
Speaking to those in the US, instead of buying stuff made in China or India, buy stuff made in the US. That will reduce the shipping issues.
I say “reduce” instead of “eliminate” for two reasons:
1- Components of many things are still produced overseas. If the thing you want is created here by parts from there and the parts aren’t here, there will still be a delay.
2- Many places here are affected just as badly by worker shortages. Part COVID, part retirement boom (see: COVID), part poor wages/benefits that people are less likely to put up with (finally).
Or, instead of buying things that are made somewhere in the US, buy things that are made in your state.
Or from people in your local area?
Maybe you know of local businesses and maybe not. I bet you can think of at least one person who could rattle some off or would know where to look.
Maybe that knowledge comes with an eye roll. “Oh, _____ would totally know where to buy local.”
Also, every single person I have spoken to about their house or their stuff has lamented having too much stuff or is working on cleaning out their stuff or decluttering. Whatever you want to call it, they’re trying to have less.
If you know a person who is financially struggling, get them something they need. Groceries. Gas. Child care. If they have kids, it’s nearly guaranteed that the kids need clothes or shoes or both. Or help them do Christmas for their kids.
For many others, there’s the question of “What should I get this person who already has everything they want?”
Experience. Which ties in easily with local—in urban areas.
Gift cards for local restaurants, coffee shops, dessert places. Massage. Personal training. Movies. Tickets to a show or concert. Manicure/pedicure. Hair stylists. Family photos. Admission to a class (in person or online). Maybe it’s something you can do together, maybe it’s just for them, or for them and their spouse.
Examples from my life:
I was gifted a one-off glassblowing class once. The friend who gifted it and I took the class and made a thing of glass.
I took a ride in a hot air balloon as a gift.
I’ve received personal training, concert tickets, massages, girls’ weekend, all as gifts over time.
For any of these, you need to know your audience—I know several people who would not at all like to receive a massage, for example—but isn’t that true of gifts of stuff as well?
Where do your friends check in on social media? What new hobby are they dreaming about or just starting? What do they sell that you might be able to buy and gift to others? There are a lot of entry points to this that are more subtle than outright asking, but that often works, too.
Collaborating with other kids’ families in their class, pitching in for a massage or a pedicure or an escape room or dinner and a movie for their teacher is better than candy or cookies or a mug. (Yes, they appreciate the thought, regardless.) The kids often know enough about the teacher (or can ask) to be able to put something like that together.
Buying holiday desserts instead of making them? There are lots of places around here that sell homemade baked goods. Perhaps there are some near you, too.
If you do want to buy tangible things, though, there are lots of people that make lots of things. If you’re not sure, do a search but also ask around at work or on social media. Not all the small places can win at the search engine game.
Maybe if you do it for Christmas, it’ll work well for you and you’ll and decide to do it some more. Which makes room for more mom-and-pop stores. And finally, an upward spiral.
And yeah, it’s a little less convenient. And yeah, it might cost a few more dollars. And yeah, it’s worth it.
I don’t think that all things overseas are bad, and I take advantage of the convenience of large online retailers from time to time. I do think that we tend to overlook some of the excellent local goods and services that make our communities thrive. The neighbors who own a storefront are at least as worthy as the space billionaire.
This whole rant has been about the buying side of things, but also, if/when people ask you what you want, you can suggest local things or places.