Although congestion at the West Coast seaports combined with a shortage of dockworkers means long lines at the ports, it’s not likely to lead to merchandise shortages for catalogers. Many marketers became aware in June of the potential for backups, so they were able to build ample time into their supply chain to mitigate any holiday snafus, according to Ezra Finkin, a spokesperson for Washington-based National Retail Federation.
Finkin says the ports in August had said they would hire 3,000 part-time workers to help ease the strain, but longshoremen say get the new hires on the docks is taking time. Peak shipping season traditionally starts in August and lasts through October. This year, however, shippers say many importers and marketers started sending their goods months earlier in hopes of avoiding delays.
The greatest congestion occurred at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, which handles about 70% of the nation’s imports. Earlier this month, congestion at the port snarled maritime traffic all the way to Huntington Beach, located about 40 miles away. Congestion at the L.A .port has led to increased traffic at other West Coast ports, such as that of Tacoma, WA. Finkin says the Tacoma port has seen a 40% increase in vessels due to traffic from Los Angeles.
Freeport, ME-based L.L. Bean, for one, isn’t feeling much of a ripple effect. The outdoor gear and apparel cataloger, which brings in merchandise through the port of Vancouver and across Canada by rail, reports only two- to five-day delays caused by the congestion. “It’s normal for this time of year,” says Bean spokesperson Rich Donaldson.