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23 AWEMainta .com Diaranson, 1 September 2021

INTERN A TION AL
How the delta variant stole Christmas: Empty

shelves, long waits — and yes, higher prices

More than 1 million Rainbow High dolls are
primed for the holidays — but first they need
to make it out of China.

The popular toys have already overcome
their share of hurdles, including short-staffed
factories and record-high plastic prices.
But now there’s a shortage of the shipping

containers that ferry them from Asian
factories, warehouses and ports to American
fulfillment centers and stores.

“I’m afraid there is simply not enough time
to get products on the shelf this year,”
said Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA
Entertainment, the toy giant behind Rainbow High The rapid spread of the coronavirus’s delta variant

and such popular lines as L.O.L. Surprise and Little adds to the uncertainty: It has already forced a
Tikes. “The holidays are going to be very tough and, two-week shutdown of a terminal in one of China’s
frankly, a lot of families are not going to be able to busiest ports and halted operations at one-third of
get the toys they want.”
Vietnam’s garment and textile factories. And there
are signs that consumers are pulling back. Retail
Mounting challenges — including factory shutdowns, sales took a hit in July, with Americans spending
computer chip shortages and clogged ports — are less on clothing, cars and furniture as the variant
rattling the industry as it prepares for the crucial took hold.

holiday shopping season, an eight-week window
that can account for more than half of a retailer’s Smoothing out the supply chain is a growing
annual sales.
priority: Last week, the White House appointed an

envoy to address congestion at U.S. ports. And the
Two of the nation’s largest retailers, Walmart and recent bipartisan infrastructure deal includes $17
Home Depot, are chartering their own ships to billion in investments for port infrastructure.
retrieve their products, while Amazon is beefing up
its fleet of cargo planes. But those efforts are unlikely to offer much reprieve

Urban Outfitters is switching from ocean freight to before the upcoming busy season. Analysts say they
air in hopes of bypassing clogged ports in the run-up expect widespread shortages, less selection and
to the holidays. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns higher prices for a number of popular holiday gifts,
The Washington Post.)
including gaming consoles, TVs, toys and sneakers

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