In the pre-holiday scramble, small businesses see a little bit of supply chain relief

Oct 26, 2022
The owners of a record and comic book shop, a toy store, and a greeting card and outdoor gear business share their experiences.
Shelves of comic books and record bins at Phillip Rollins' new OffBeat location, in Jackson, Mississippi.
Courtesy Phillip Rollins

Paint is still in short supply in the U.S., and more expensive

Sep 19, 2022
Suppliers are prioritizing core products, says the owner of Ryan Amato Painting, but deep colors and clear coats can be hard to get.
Looking for paint in a deep color? That could be a problem.
Georgijevic via Getty Images

From toys to custom bikes, these small businesses are still seeing shipment delays

Aug 22, 2022
Supply chain problems remain an obstacle as demand picks up.
A shopper on a stroll in San Francisco. Retailers have begun preparing for the holidays, but supplies of some items are uncertain.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

How Shanghai's DIY supply chains helped us live through the long COVID lockdown

Jun 6, 2022
What happens when supply chains collapse and it's up to district governments, neighbors and friends to fill the gap?
A volunteer clad in safety gear delivers food during the lockdown while Shanghai residents were not allowed to leave their apartments.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace

Shifting supply chains settle on Mexico

May 2, 2022
After a pandemic, trade war and rising wages, many manufacturers have been looking for other options outside of China.
With rising labor costs in China and the delay in receiving goods, some U.S. manufacturers are moving operations to Mexico. Above, workers at a truck parts factory in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in May 2020.
Mauricio Palos/AFP va Getty Images

How supply chain issues and inflation have started to reshape advertising

Apr 15, 2022
What's the message for brands when the stuff they're selling is either not available or more expensive?
Some brands are shifting away from product-focused advertising as supply chain issues make it harder to get goods.
Getty Images

Food banks feel pinch of inflation

Nov 30, 2021
The nonprofits faced higher demand through the pandemic. Now, with food costs rising, their resources are stretched even further.
Inflation and supply chain issues are hitting food banks hard and limiting the aid they're able to distribute.
Spencer Platt via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

He's growing his business during a labor shortage. "I'm optimistic."

Nov 3, 2021
R.G. Lamar of Stuckey's Corp. bought pecan-shelling and candymaking facilities in rural Georgia. There's demand, but not enough workers.
R.G. Lamar on his pecan farm in 2018.
Daisy Palacios/Marketplace

How a container storage yard fits into our global shipping crunch

Oct 27, 2021
Some containers have been sitting in storage for years. Experts say the problem has more to do with moving them to the right places than increasing the number in circulation.
Sales manager Carlos Carrillo at ConGlobal Industries' container storage depot. After unloading, he said, "they terminate here before they go out back to China or wherever it may be.”
Andie Corban/Marketplace

Construction industry still hammered by supply chain issues

Sep 7, 2021
At the root of many of construction sector woes is the spread of the delta variant.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images