Avoid the Shipping, Supply-Chain Crunch

This is a photograph of a woman in a black, sparkly dress holding five red gift bags. There is lit Christmas tree behind her.

If you haven’t completed your holiday gift shopping, you’re screwed. Limited product supplies and slow-as-molasses shipping delays are threatening the joy of the holidays. Retail experts are constantly reporting on a looming shipping, supply-chain crunch. If you have not taken measures to avoid it, I have some ideas for you to start now.

Shop In-Store

Give up on online shopping. The current shipping, supply-chain crunch has made that too late. Put on a mask and conduct your shopping inside a store.

To make it easy on yourself, either place your purchase online and select in-store pick-up or call the store ahead and ask them to hold the items at the checkout counter for you. Either way, you have to put on some real clothes, a mask, maybe a little mascara, and join the commoners inside a store.

Shop Small, Shop Local

Now that you’ve accepted your fate to shop in-store, I highly recommend shopping small and locally. The good thing about the shipping, supply-chain crunch is that it will drive consumers to shop locally-owned small businesses.

This is a great opportunity. Find delightful, unique items while supporting small businesses.

Shop Second-Hand

This one is my favorite idea: shop second-hand. Treasures are waiting to be found inside your local thrift, vintage, and antique stores, such as:

Retro jewelry
Vintage concert T-shirts
Record albums

This is a photograph of a woman shopping a second-hand store. She is browsing through a rack of second-hand clothes and behind her is wall with a shelf of vintage artwork on display.

DIY It

Be creative and do it yourself. Discover your inner Martha Stewart by crafting a memorable gift.

This could be as simple as finding a pretty photo frame at a second-hand shop and placing a photo of you and your gift recipient inside. Or, you could pull the glue and staple guns from your closet and get to building an art project.

Need ideas? Pinterest always has the best suggestions for arts and crafts. TikTok and Instagram are also great sources of amazing inspiration.

Give an Experience

I think nowadays, people value an experience more than they value an item. From manicures, to a day at the spa, to a tour of a nearby nature reserve, your friends and family are more likely to remember the gift of experience more so than a purse or a wallet.

Even children would prefer the gift of a family vacation to their favorite amusement park over toys and games. Shop GroupOn and Travelzoo for deals.

This is a photograph of an amusement park at dusk.

Give a Gift Card

Gift cards are more personal than cash. They can be purchased at grocery stores and pharmacies. Most every brand, eCommerce shop, and restaurant has one.

The shipping, supply-chain crunch is bound to die down after the new year. Give your gift recipients gift cards now and let them buy what they want in 2022.