ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) – You might want to start your holiday shopping a bit earlier this year, especially if you have little ones.

It may seem like you hear this every year, but this season is a little different.

Supply chain issues across the country impact all kinds of consumer goods, especially toys and games.

“This is a real recipe for disaster. There is a multidimensional problem going on here and we are all suffering the consequences. It’s like hitting a mole, you crush one problem, it’s like bam, another. And then another one appears. It’s pretty crazy right now, ”said Steven Carnovale, assistant professor of supply chain management at Saunders College of Business at RIT.

Carnovale said that there are several reasons why we can see this problem.

On the one hand, the demand for games, toys and electronics has increased as more people are at home during the pandemic.

“The warehouses are filled to the brim and they’re going through a rough patch because when COVID hit there was a huge shift towards online consumption. At the same time, a lot of freight companies said well, we don’t need freight anymore, stop them. They didn’t take into account that people were going to say, ‘Well actually I’m always going to need stuff, I’m still going to need food, I’m still getting the product, except I’m going to buy online now, ”Carnovale said.

He also said that many toys are coming from Southeast Asia, usually China, where transport has stopped coming and going as much during the pandemic with changing consumer spending.

“One of the things that stopped going to China was the empty containers, which of course are essential for bringing the products back. So right now it’s October, but the products you see on the shelves have generally been ordered probably in August, ”Carnovale said.

He also said that some of the more complex toys require chips, of which there has also been a shortage.

“There has been a semiconductor shortage for about six to eight months. Now it’s impacting automotive, it’s impacting iPads and personal computing devices, so there’s a ripple effect there, ”Carnovale said. “What’s crazy is that it’s not even like the important chip. It’s these little display drivers, which connects the smart element of this technology to what we see.

The supply chain crisis is affecting businesses of all sizes, including large ones, like Target and Walmart, but also small local businesses.

Matthew Vercant, the owner of Just Games in Rochester, knows this firsthand.

“The supply chain stuff has been really crazy this year. We’ve been purchasing holiday supplies since March, ”Vercant said.

“It kind of started last year, but it went awry in March, and this year I can’t think of a Q4 release that won’t be impacted as some of them don’t. won’t be here until January or February next year, ”he added.

Vercant said he was recently told by an industrial partner that some of their products were not going to arrive on time, which is hard to hear before the holidays.

“This next version which will be out in November is the first where they said, ‘Hey, our number guaranteed… we can’t get you anything on time. “So there have been things like that that are really consistent, big companies with great logistics are still not able to get them to retailers on their dates. And I think it will only get worse over the course of the year. the next few months, ”said Vercant.

The owner of the business said that means some products are not there for the customers who are expecting them.

“To a certain extent, people are understanding. But that could end up meaning in many cases, that by the time we have it, interest in this product is much lower, ”he explained.

So what can you as a consumer do this holiday season? Supply chain experts have a few tips.

Number one, they recommend shopping early. It means before Black Friday. But also, be prepared to grab an object when you see it.

“Be on the lookout and if you see something, if you need a specific thing in mind, go out there and be ready to grab it when it’s there,” Carnovale said.

For tech products in particular, Carnovale recommends thinking outside the box and exploring companies you don’t always use.

“Take a good look at secondary markets, things like Craigslist, eBay and things like that. Do your homework and be careful with the transaction, but I think these secondary markets sometimes people forget, and they provide opportunities to access products that might otherwise be in short supply, ”Carnovale said.

Experts also recommend having a back-up plan for the kids, in case the gift they really want isn’t in stock this season.

“If you’re looking for a game like Monopoly, we can suggest six things that sound like it,” Vercant said. “I think this will be the year to focus your research, and I think you’ll have a good chance of getting it, it’s just going to take more time and a little more patience.”

Experts also say consumers could pay a bit more this year if items are scarce.

“Scarcity usually drives demand, demand usually drives prices, especially when supply is low. And so if it’s something everyone wants, low availability, the retailer who has it is going to take advantage, ”Carovale explained.

For those looking to shop for toys this holiday season, you can expect bigger, bulkier, and harder to transport toys to be the rarest, along with newer items on the market. This includes toys like the latest lego set or the LOL doll.

To help deal with the ongoing supply crisis, President Biden announced that the Port of Los Angeles will begin operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help eliminate congestion.

Companies like Walmart, FedEx and UPS have also agreed to extend hours of operation to help move goods.