Toy Association Team Speaks Out on Supply Chain Disruptions

August 17, 2021 | As part of a concerted legislative advocacy and media push across America and even into China, Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association, appeared on Cheddar News August 13 to explain how supply chain disruptions are impacting Toy Association members in ports everywhere from Asia to the U.S. and what this could mean for the toy industry and shoppers this holiday season. The full interview can be watched here.

“August is the time when major retailers make their reset around Labor Day to stock those toys into their stores, and, in many cases, they are still sitting in China or they are still sitting off the port of L.A. waiting to get off-loaded,” said Pasierb during the interview. “It really is a crisis not just for our industry, which is very seasonal, but for all consumer products. Right now, we are in the middle of a global crisis which is why it’s so hard to get out of this.”

Pasierb described some Toy Association member companies reporting up to 800 percent increases in container costs (if they can even get containers), significantly longer transit times from factory to retailer, and how this is seriously impacting toy company bottom lines. He expressed particular concern for small and midsize companies with sales still recovering from the pandemic. While major toy companies are doing whatever it takes to get product in and on shelves for holiday, Pasierb told consumers that this is not the year to wait for Thanksgiving sales and promotions to begin their holiday shopping.

“Your local toy store is a really important part of our economy right now, get out there and talk with them,” added Pasierb. “Right now is the time to shop early for toys. You may find that the toy your child has their heart set upon may not be there if you wait for that big pre-holiday sale.”

The Toy Association continues to advocate on this issue, urging intervention by the U.S. government and lobbying the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to take action and implement solutions as well as maintaining active communications with key ports and connecting with fellow toy associations around the world in search of solutions. The Association has also hosted a series of informative members-only webinars with the Toy Industry Shippers Association (TOYSA), the Port of Los Angeles, and the FMC. For the latest updates on this ongoing crisis, visit the new Shipping Crisis Resource Center.

Questions on this topic may be directed to Ed Desmond, executive vice president of external affairs.