The supply chain, a critical component of the green industry has seen its fair share of upheavals in recent times.
In response to these challenges, industry leaders have strategies to bolster resilience and continuity.
DJ Broccoli, the northeast regional vice president at Heritage Landscape Supply, emphasizes the importance of building robust relationships between contractors and distributors to offset any potential disruptions.
“We want to be more than just a supplier of products to our contractors,” he says. “We want to be a resource to grow every customer’s business. The more conversations we can have about challenges they’re facing, or areas where they would like to grow, the more we can partner in that journey.”
When it comes to preparing for the upcoming season, Broccoli advises contractors to engage in proactive forecasting.
“Forecasting is always a healthy exercise to get ahead of any potential supply chain issues,” Broccoli says. “Oftentimes, manufacturers and distributors will have insight into product availability and lead times that can help contractors stay agile when selling projects and make sure they run into fewer unexpected hurdles.”
Kirk Lovan, vice president of purchasing and vendor partnerships at Heritage, says the supply chain has holistically returned to pre-pandemic levels relating to expected delivery times,.
“Suppliers and distributors held higher inventory levels over the past 24 months resulting in a softening of the burden to plan for upcoming business needs in the field and with shipping delays declining there is a natural lowering of shelf stock,” he says.
This strategic stockpiling has eased the burden of planning and mitigated the impact of shipping delays. Moreover, the easing of the microchip shortage paves the way for the introduction of innovative new products in 2024 and beyond, he says.
However, the landscape is not without its challenges. Lovan points out the lingering issues related to freight increases and international ocean freight container prices. Stranded cargo and the potential for early 2024 disruptions could affect the supply of certain goods and contribute to price increases.
