Effects vary in Valley
Some retailers who stocked Christmas holiday merchandise in the summer have been unaffected by the California port problems.
By DON SHILLING and CYNTHIA VINARSKY
VINDICATOR BUSINESS STAFF
Shoppers might not notice much difference, but some area retail store managers say they're still grappling with inventory shortages related to a West Coast port worker lockout that ended two weeks ago.
Employees at the Target store in Niles will postpone putting up some Christmas displays until mid-November, said Rick Jenkins, store team leader, because port problems in California have delayed some of its seasonal merchandise shipments.
"We've been getting Christmas merchandise in since May, but we might be a little light on quantity," he said. "If you came into our store, though, you wouldn't notice much of a difference."
Target shoppers also might find smaller-than-usual quantities of special sale items featured in the discount chain's weekly newspaper ads, Jenkins said, stressing that the stores will be issuing rain checks.
He said Target will be running disclaimers wherever it advertises, explaining that the West Coast labor dispute has resulted in shipping delays. "The merchandise has been ordered, and in some cases it's been paid for. It just isn't here yet," he explained.
Target retailers rented additional warehouse space around the country to accommodate more advance orders to prepare for the longshoremen labor dispute, he said, and now it is rerouting some shipments to the East Coast. He expects inventory levels to be back to normal by Nov. 11.
Effects on Kmart
Kmart in Boardman also has felt the effects of the lockout. Bob Bowen, store manager, said shipments of electronics items, such as televisions and stereos, have been lagging because of the clogged West Coast ports.
Quantities also have been below normal for some products promoted in Kmart advertising, Bowen said. The store is issuing rain checks to affected customers.
Bowen said he expects deliveries in the next week or so to bring inventories up to proper levels. Store officials are preparing to handle deliveries that will be larger than normal, he said.
The store hasn't had problems with other types of merchandise.
Pat Catan's Craft Centers stock thousands of imported products, but spokesman Mike Catan said the stores haven't been bothered by the West Coast cargo backlog because it orders merchandise so far in advance. "Our Christmas orders come in June and July," he said. "It could be a problem for us in the spring, if it isn't settled soon."
Home-decorating buffs shopping at Kirkland's in the Southern Park Mall also will have a full inventory to choose from, said manager Lesly Lesnak.
She said the Tennessee-based company orders and stocks seasonal merchandise far in advance so that shopping aisles aren't blocked during the busiest shopping seasons. The practice had nothing to do with the port labor trouble, but it had the side benefit of preventing shipping problems for the Kirkland's stores, she said.
How others are faring
Store managers at two other Boardman stores that specialize in selling electronics, Best Buy and Circuit City, said their deliveries have not been affected by the West Coast problems.
At Giant Eagle stores, the impact has been small, said Terry Kushner, a company spokesman.
The Pittsburgh-based grocery chain has had a little trouble in getting some nonfood items that represent a small part of sales, he said. Delivery of food items hasn't been affected, in part because of this area's proximity to East Coast ports, he said.
West Coast shipping companies have accused union longshoremen of deliberately slowing down the process of unloading more than 200 cargo ships at 29 ports, an allegation that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has denied.
The workers were locked out Sept. 29, returning to work Oct. 9 when President Bush invoked the Taft-Hartley Act, which gives the United States attorney general the power to obtain an 80-day injunction when a threatened or actual strike imperils national health or safety.
vinarsky@vindy.com
shilling@vindy.com