For today’s post, I wanted to let each of you know three main factors currently affecting the availability of some Stampin' Up! products: (1) higher sales of particular products than Stampin’ Up! forecasted; (2) contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA); and (3) the Chinese New Year.
Higher Sales
For accessories in the occasions catalog, Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators sold 100 percent or more of some products in eight weeks than they forecasted for a period of 13 weeks! While this is certainly exciting news in many ways, it has also resulted in frustrating backorder situations.
West Coast Port Labor Negotiations
Many of you do not know this, but nearly 40 percent of all US imports pass through ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. The ILWU and PMA reached a tentative agreement on Friday, February 20. The contract still needs to be ratified, but it is expected to be ratified without issue.
The west coast ports have now returned to normal operations, with night shifts restarting. However, because of the enormous backlog, it is still going to take months to get out of congestion. In the meantime, Stampin’ Up! will continue to turn off backordered accessories and will update the list Monday through Thursday. If you need to know if a particular item is being “turned off”, please contact me and I can let you know if it is on back order. Otherwise, I will periodically post what the current back order situation is.
Chinese New Year
During Chinese New Year (February 19-March 5)–a very important holiday to the Chinese people–our Chinese manufacturers shut down and none of those products will be shipped to the US during this time.
Unfortunately, these three factors have combined to create the "perfect storm" of backorders and, sadly, the situation will get worse before it gets better.
The Temporary Solution
Because backorders cause so much consternation and are very costly, Stampin’ Up! has decided that until they see improvements in the factors causing backorders, they will turn off accessories that become unavailable, rather than allowing them to go on backorder. Please note: Because stamps are manufactured locally, stamp sets will be allowed to go on backorder status as needed.
Current Backorder Report as of Tuesday, April 7th
Currently, the following items are on BACKORDER; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.
131296: Baked Brown Sugar 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock–April 9
140667: Just Kidding Photopolymer Stamp Set–April 9
131192: Regals Collection 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock–April 9
130136: 2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack–April 10
131170: Subtles Collection Classic Stampin' Ink Refills–April 13
131162: Brights Collection Classic Stampin' Ink Refill–April 13
130139: Regals Designer Series Paper Stacks–April 13
120801: Big Shot Die Large Storage Insert–April 21
131166: Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin' Ink Refill–April 28
131185: Subtles Collection Classic Stampin' Pads–TBD
131294: Pistachio Pudding 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock–TBD
131197: Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock–TBD
131190: Brights Collection 8-1/2" x 11" Cardstock–TBD
131195: 2013-2015 In Color Collection 12" x 12" Cardstock–TBD
131158: Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill–TBD
129977: Gift Bow Bigz L Die—TBD
Currently, the following items are NOT ORDERABLE:
137360: Butterflies Thinlits Die (currently due in warehouse April 13)
139322: Butterfly Bundle (Wood)
139323: Butterfly Bundle (Clear)
138865: Butterfly Bundle (Photopolymer)
137898: Calypso Coral Pompom Trim
129381: Ovals Collection Framelits
127526: Elegant Butterfly Punch
126189: Paper-Piercing Tool
120279: Clear-Block Storage Caddy
137909: Artisan Embellishment Kit
119859: Extra-Large Oval Punch
127811: 1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch
Currently, the following items have LOW INVENTORY and will move to the "Not Orderable" list (above) once our current inventory is depleted:
122332: Crumb Cake 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon
120907: Decorative Label Punch
119854: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch
130148: Grid Paper
