Arrives as Expected

Navigating Global Supply Chain Issues

Exercise equipment. Computer chips. Cereal. Office furniture. As I’m sure you know by now, the world has been running short on many products. The complexity of global supply chain issues has opened up a Pandora’s box of unanticipated events, creating a snowball effect of unintended consequences. The rapid breakdown of supply chain disruptions causes many companies to navigate tremendous financial, operational and ethical risks. 

In an era where we are used to clicking “Place Order” and receiving it 48 hours later (or less!), society has experienced a certain level of shock when we couldn’t buy toilet paper immediately or had to wait six months to order a new couch. We simply aren’t used to having to wait, or having to wait a long time. 

As you can imagine, with every aspect being affected, furniture supply chain issues are also very much occuring and don’t seem to be stopping any time soon, and all of this combined leaves people wondering “why?” 

So, why is it happening?

In short, the pandemic is the reason, and it has disrupted many avenues of life, one of which is the global supply chain (arguably one that has made one of the biggest impacts). What’s the global supply chain? Well, it’s essentially it’s the pathways of manufacturing that gets the products from point A to point B. Scarcity with products has also increased the overall price of goods, as well. 

When did all this start?

The first signs of global supply chain issues began during the very early stages of the pandemic. Globally, many factories were shut down or forced to radically reduce production because employees were either in lockdown or sick. As a response to the factories closing/reducing production, shipping companies cut down on their schedules too, as they anticipated a drop in demand. 

While there was a drastic drop for purchases such as vacations, spa services and restaurants, individuals began redirecting their money and investing it in their homes. For many, their homes suddenly doubled as offices and classrooms. Printers were moved to dining tables that double as desks, more kitchen equipment was purchased to make more meals at home and many other areas of the home shifted and changed during the pandemic. So, in a sense, cutting production was a mistake. 

At Ghent, we are very fortunate to be ahead of the curve and able to send out our products to those that have needed them in this time. While our products have always been made on USA turf, our customers have truly been able to see the benefits of this in recent months by experiencing lead times of 10 days or less for 90% of our products.  

How Ghent Overcomes Global Issues

For us, “Made in the USA” is more than just a statement we brand on our products. The benefits of purchasing American-made products include:

• • Lower damage rates - ever ordered something you were really looking forward to receiving, only for it to arrive broken or damaged? Us too. Thankfully, Ghent has the lowest damage rates in our industry, and our products arrive to standard. All of our products are shipped in our worry-free packaging, all of which is custom molded to each product to ensure they protect your purchase. And if for any reason they don’t, we expedite them out in 24-48 hours and replace them for free. 

• • Products made with higher quality materials - high-quality materials speak for themselves, and we choose materials that stand the test of time (also meaning less chance of getting damaged in transit) while bringing a beautiful touch to your space. Along with being high-quality, we are committed to sustainability, which is why we are the only glassboard creator in the industry that has LEVEL certified boards. What is a LEVEL certification, you ask? Well, a product having a LEVEL mark shows that the product, the manufacturing facility and the company itself have all met the requirements that show a specific sustainability standard.
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• • Not as impacted by supply chain issues - because we are made in the USA, the products we ship don’t have as many stops to make before making it to your door. Instead of making multiple hand-offs in multiple locations, shipments that go to and from the USA arrive to you in a timely manner. This is especially convenient for designers, dealers and builders, all of whom typically work with tight turnaround dates for projects and assignments. Most of our standard products ship within two days, and even if you decide to customize your own product for your space, we still ship them out in 10 days or less.
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• • You support local - the pandemics effect on international trade has made buying local more important than ever. By purchasing products made in the USA, you are keeping your dollars close and supporting American jobs. Jobs are created or retained, and with the pandemic, supporting local jobs creates a meaningful ripple effect that is felt in many homes across the country. Additionally, supporting local businesses has less strain on the environment.  
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• • Increases demand for local products – by purchasing American-made, you create demand for it. The boost of supporting domestic business creates and encourages more exports. Local business owners often have incentive to support other local businesses, patronizing local establishments for both business and personal reasons. Chain businesses, on the other hand, tend to get their supplies from corporations, as well as having store managers and employees that aren’t as personally invested in buying local. 
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While there are a whole host of benefits, with the state of the world and current shipping times, we are setting a new standard not just in our industry specifically, but . With 95% of our products being manufactured here, we are able to continue having superior lead times in this industry, shipping them in record time – even if you have a custom order (which we are still able to ship out in under two weeks!). When it comes to how we produce our boards, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, prioritizing sustainable and ethical practices and supporting products made in our country. We believe all these practices have benefits that go deeper than convenience and truly make the world a better place to live in.