[ad_1]
Retailers across the country are scrambling to get enough stock for their Christmas shoppers as delays continue at Auckland ports.
Rob Cameron takes his message directly to the container ship trapped at sea with his wine.
Photo: Invivo Wines
There is still a build-up of stocks at sea or stagnant at the dock, and it couldn’t be a worse time as the country enters its busiest retail period of the year.
It has caused a businessman to go to sea today to try to find the wine he lacks.
The problem is widespread and retailers across New Zealand are feeling the effects of the delay.
Invivo Wine co-founder Rob Cameron said seven containers of his pink prosecco were still on a ship and wouldn’t be on the shelves anytime soon.
“Basically we are losing a substantial amount of our holiday sales and logistically this puts our supply chain under great pressure without our stocks and that is a really challenging situation for anyone selling products.”
As the merchandise did not arrive, he and his co-founder tried to locate them, climbing into a small boat with a sign that read “Where is our wine?”
“We just wanted to have a little fun to say ‘where is our wine’, find the container ship with a little hope that it could be there and it turns out it is.”
Rob Cameron, center, with actress Sarah Jessica Parker. (file photo)
Photo: Invivo Wines
Now there is an average delay at ports of eight to nine days.
Retail New Zealand CEO Greg Harford said there was a significant shortage of inventory across the retail sector.
“Retailers are very frustrated by the delays and the lack of really solid information on the causes of these problems.
“We know that less cargo is coming to New Zealand, we know that it is taking a long time to get things off the ships in the ports, and that is a terrible time given that we are so close to Christmas.”
Greg Harford: “We know that less cargo is coming to New Zealand.”
Photo: Supplied
Briscoes and Rebel Sport are two retailers facing a shortage. Briscoes Group Managing Director Rodney Duke said the problem had been going on for months and while the situation is not critical, it is inconvenient.
“It’s never a good time to go a little short on some products in the run-up to Christmas, our busiest time, but we’re still in stock, basically running out of some colors or sizes.”
Julie is the owner and manager of Health Essence Sylvia Park. She has also been hit by delays and hopes the log jam will be cleared sooner rather than later.
“We’ve noticed a little bit. And of course there are some products that people have ordered that are their favorite products and they may not be in stock, so that’s disappointing. But it has caused some problems and certainly some delays.” .
Clogged ports are also affecting exports. Cameron said they will feel the effects long after Christmas.
“This disruption is delaying the output of the products. We have 14 containers that we are trying to export from Nelson and we cannot get the empty containers because the products are not flowing from Auckland.
“So we are missing the Christmas sales, but then for our products going to the UK, we are missing the Easter sales and more promotional periods.”
The log jam at ports could continue for months.
Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson has blamed the delays directly on Covid-19, arguing that the automation of the port is unrelated.
