Furnishing Lead Times at the Beginning of 2022

We have some good news and some bad news about furnishing lead times at the beginning of 2022. Let's start with the good news, shall we? It’s not too surprising that it comes from the industry leader, Kravet:

“Say goodbye to long lead times. With our dedication to getting you what you need when you need it, Kravet is always offering innovative solutions to your time-sensitive needs.”

• An astounding 90% of Kravet fabrics are in stock and ready to ship within 24 hours.

• Kravet Furniture is offering their QuickShip frames, paired with 150+ fabrics, produced in 10-12 weeks. This is less than half the current industry lead times.

• They offer same-day shipping for in-stock memos plus FREE FedEx 2nd day air shipping (which we can drop-ship directly to your clients).

Need something even quicker? Contact TD Fall & Co today and we will get you what you need!

Bad News About Furnishing Lead Times

According to an article at the global freight booking platform Freightos.com, the somewhat optimistic predictions for the new year have been slow to be realized.

“With ongoing pandemic-related delays and closures, non-stop demand for ocean freight from Asia to the US, and a lack of capacity, ocean rates are still very elevated and transit times volatile. Transpacific ocean rates have been more stable at the start of the year. Despite this stabilizing trend, rates remain 8-9 [times] higher than the pre-pandemic norm.

“Continued disrupted schedules and port congestion, combined with omicron slowdowns and Lunar New Year, mean that importers have yet to see any significant improvement in shipping conditions in 2022.”

Trucking Delays and Shipping Cost Increases

“With high demand from consumers, importers are rushing to replenish inventory, causing capacity in trucking to tighten and driving rates up. Now many observers warn that quarantine rules for returning truckers could cause significant delays even if goods manufactured over the holiday are ready to ship.

“Overwhelmed trucking, warehouse, and rail logistics are also contributing to the port delays, and to the overall slog in end-to-end logistics.

“Freightos.com marketplace data shows that in September, China-US ocean shipments took an average of 80 days to arrive at their final destination, 85% longer than in September 2019.” (emphasis added)

What You Can Do

Despite potential delays and high freight shipping costs, there are a few steps importers can take right now. Here are a few ideas to help you navigate the current freight market:

• Compare at least a few quotes and modes to make sure you are getting the best cost and most efficient service possible.

• Buffer your freight budget and transit time for changes. Costs due to unforeseen delays or limited capacity can arise, so be prepared.

• Explore warehousing options to mitigate the effects of lowered demand and business restrictions in the US.

• Pay attention to the profitability of your goods and consider if a pivot could be worthwhile. Additionally, remember to factor in freight costs when assessing profitability.

Here at TD Fall, we’re doing all we can to keep our ear to the ground (or ocean, as the case may be) where furnishing lead times and shipping delays are concerned.

And, as always, Ted is available with more than 25 years of experience and industry contacts he can put at your disposal with his business consulting services. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Luxury Furnishing Lead Times (Can we say current lead times suck?!?)

What’s the number one factor you consider when choosing a luxury furnishing supplier right now? While it used to unquestionably be quality, feel, and/or looks, the emphasis has shifted to availability for many, if not most, designers and retailers. In other words, luxury furnishing lead times have become a singular priority for a majority today.

As explained in a January article at BusinessOfHome.com: “It’s no secret that lead times are stretching ever longer as COVID drags on – and that many clients are getting impatient. The delays have cut across categories, from bespoke upholstery to tile and kitchen appliances; even many of the quick-ship retailers [and wholesalers] can no longer deliver on tight timelines.

“Shutdowns of the manufacturing floor with the onset of COVID instigated an initial round of delays, which were compounded by a slow return to production as companies navigated new safety protocols. More than one year later, many major manufacturers still aren’t staffed at full pre-pandemic capacity, which makes it much harder to catch up on the backlog.

“And every time an employee tests positive for COVID, many more workers with whom they came into contact are sent home to quarantine, which only exacerbates the delays. Add soaring freight costs and a scarcity of raw materials (plus a shortage of containers to ship them in) and it quickly becomes clear that this is a mess with no easy answers or antidotes.”

It goes without saying that lead times have always been an issue in the luxury furnishings industry. Whether products were produced on the other side of the globe or were made by hand in an artisanal house locally, delays of weeks became the norm. Today though, lead times for all types of furniture, not just for the category of luxury furnishings, have exploded into months.

Where to Go for Reasonable Delivery Lead Times

What does all of this mean for you and your interior design or furnishings business?

While it may be “Kewl!” to work with the newest or trendiest line, a small house that creates unique designs, there are times when you are far better off working with the Big Boys (or Girls) instead. Stated simply, the larger brands and manufacturers have the infrastructure to cope more effectively with world-changing events.

For example, Kravet is known as the industry leader for a variety of reasons, most of which have little to do with them being more than a century old and being the Biggest of the Big Boys.

Beyond those, they truly have their house in order and possess the logistical know-how and experience to provide you with outstanding service while others struggle (and frequently fail) to deliver products in a timely fashion.

Right now, Kravet is only running a few weeks behind their normal production. In fact, their QuickShip frames, which normally would ship in two weeks, are shipping in 15 working days. All other frames, which normally ship in eight weeks, are currently shipping in 10-12. There are some caveats and disruptions but the customer is always kept informed!

Of course, the fact that all Kravet SMART frames and fabrics, which are the foundation of the QuickShip program, are guaranteed produced right here, in the USA, is a sheer genius when it comes to quicker than average lead times.

Get in Touch with TD Fall Today

In short, if you're searching for reasonable luxury furnishing lead times, TD Fall and the Kravet family of brands we represent just may be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Ted remains available to work with you on an individual basis, consulting on how your business can best respond to the shifting demands of the marketplace, and the needs of your design and furnishings clients. Get in touch with TD Fall today.