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How The Appliance Shortage Got Here, And Where We Go Next

With vaccines being rolled out every day and mask restrictions being relaxed, many people think things are going back to normal. However, the appliance industry is showing that the effects of COVID-19 are going to  be felt for far longer than people anticipate. There is a massive appliance shortage not just here in Texas, but across the country.  So, how did it start, where is it going, and what can you do about it? 

Realistically, this shortage started almost right away in March of 2020 when we were beginning mass shutdowns across the country. It began in China where factories had to close for 6-8 weeks, which meant there was no stainless steel in production.  From there, the manufacturing plants for appliances in China, Mexico and the U.S. were either closed or had restrictions on how many people were allowed in. This meant that not only were the appliances delayed now, but so were the parts for those appliances. 

There were also businesses closing left and right, as  well as layoffs that swept the nation. So, people aren’t going to be shopping as much thanks to quarantine and shelter in place orders. With both of these factors going into play many of the manufacturers thought it was reasonable to scale back production. Stores felt the same and so they reduced their orders. 

Now let’s zoom in a bit, and take a look at the average person. As we were told to shelter in place, we needed ways to keep busy. So we looked around our homes and decided we wanted to bake sourdough bread. Or learn how to make new and exciting meals (that normally we’d get from takeout...) Some of us decided if we couldn’t go on vacation, we’d renovate our kitchens instead. Or others just had the bad luck of having their appliances break with all of the extra use from the family being home all day every day. 

All of this combined together meant a lot of time in our kitchens and the need for more appliances, or new appliances, or repairing our appliances. 

Then there’s a second angle to supply increase, the housing market. Even as COVID-19 happened, people were looking at buying new homes thanks to the Federal Reserve putting interest rates at 0%.  New homes were also still being built, and those come standard with a full appliance set of a microwave, dishwasher, oven, refrigerator and washer and dryer. So all of those homes still needed their slated appliances. 

All of this came together to create our current situation. Appliance backlogs of six months or more for specific brands and models. And let’s not even talk about being able to get the color you want.  

Several manufacturers are quoted as saying that they are ‘ramping up production’ or ‘being resourceful to meet demands.’ That isn’t showing in the market just yet though. Despite encouraging messages from Whirlpool, Electrolux and LG, we still have backorders of at least 6 months. 

So what to do? How do you, our loyal readers and clients, deal with this not six months from now, but right now? We know you have appliances that are still breaking, or ones you’re hoping to replace.  For the latter, we advise being flexible. Place an order as early as you can.  Know that the size you need is more important than specifics of the brand and model. If you can find a fridge that fits what you need and isn’t a sacrifice  on price, jump on it. 

If on the other hand your appliance has broken, we appreciate your patience. We are still working as hard as we can to take care of our clients throughout Dallas and the surrounding area. Know however that the manufacturing companies are backed up on parts as they are on the full appliances, with those full appliances taking precedence. Unfortunately for all of us, companies are focusing on the greatest profit margin they can attain right now, which means their higher tier models.  We understand your frustrations, and we hate it just as much. 

However! There are things you can do, other than just being the patient people we know and care about. 

Keep things clean and spaced properly. We’ve got several articles talking about how to make sure your fridge, freezer and dryer can breathe properly. 

If you aren’t sure, don’t put something through your dishwasher, washer or dryer. 

 Take preventative measures. If you think something is off with one of your appliances, give us a call. We do maintenance calls, and right now “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” for you, your time and your wallet.  

So while we aren’t sure about when things will change for the better, we can tell you that we will be here. We’re here to keep your homes running, whether you live in Coppell or Garland, Dallas or McKinney, we at Appliance Rescue Service are here for you. 

If you need to set a maintenance appointment, or something in your kitchen has broken, give us a call. You can reach us at ((214) 599-0055), our website, or via our Facebook page. 

We can only hope that our stores and showrooms will one day go back to showing appliances this way and having sales like this.

2020 Design Trends: Big or Bust?

How did the predictions hold up?

Every year interior designers predict what will be popular in the coming year. We thought it would be more interesting to see how this year’s trends were holding up. Although dozens of trends are suggested every year, we selected 9. We’ve taken a look at different ways to see how a trend is doing and sorted them accordingly.  

Rattan & Wicker Indoor Furniture

While these have been an outdoor staple for years, they’re moving indoor. Sadly, we only see this trend, hanging on for another year or so. It’s already proliferated through many different catalogs and big box stores. That is usually the dying knell for a trend. 

Birds and Botanicals 

The beautiful plumage of birds or the old school illustrations of plants of all types that’s what is ‘all the rage’ according to designers for 2020. Both are making a boom (and often together) from wall art, to fabrics and wallpapers. Although this one scored the same as the rattan and wicker furniture, we’re torn. On one hand, it’s already spread everywhere. You can find it across multiple industries, and price points, which are major signs that a trend is going to die. On the other hand, there’s enough variety in the concept of ‘birds and botanicals that it could easily continue for ages. 

Daybeds

Although there isn’t much difference between a daybed and a normal bed, other than the frame, this is a trend. More people are making their guest rooms serve multiple purposes as offices, but still need a bed or seating, just in case. Although daybeds have been found in many big box stores, we haven’t seen them at a variety of price points, nor have they ended up in discount stores yet.  We expect this trend to continue for another two years. We look forward to seeing how the different makers will differentiate themselves and their designs. 

Gallery Wall TV

When we saw this suggestion at the end of last year we were shocked. Gallery walls have been a thing for years! How had we not thought to frame our TVs as part of that? Given how seamlessly this can slip into part of your existing decor, we expect this trend to be around for several years. At least until we switch to fully holographic entertainment anyway. 

Orangeries

Raise your hand if you saw orangeries becoming a thing again. We certainly didn’t. But as of this year, perhaps because of Covid-19, perhaps because of other factors, growing citrus trees indoors has become very popular again. It’s hard to see how this one will work as a trend in terms of sales, unless we start seeing a large number of kits or fake plants. We think this one will stick around for another few years, but only those with a green thumb will keep it beyond that. Citrus plants are finicky after all. 

Layered Patterns 

For years you were told to try and match one pattern throughout a room or even your house. As of 2020 we are free though! Finally people are realizing it’s much more fun to layer patterns that work well or compliment one another into a room. Much like orangeries, this one goes beyond just selling an individual item the way some of our other trends have. It’s a matter of personal taste, mixing and matching, and we think it going to result in a greater number of thrift store finds as well.  This one could go either way. However after how long neutrals and all white rooms survived, we think it will be a long while before people give up this trend. 

Mending 

Photo courtesy of Carson Downing

This one is a continuation of the hand crafting trend that has been building for the last decade. While it is also prevalent in clothes at the moment , we still think it’s going to stick around. The idea is that instead of throwing a piece of decor, or furniture out because it's torn or damaged somehow, you repair it. Not simply to return it to its former state, but to bring beauty to it on an entirely new level. The ideas and art of Japanese sashiko and kintsukuroi are both prominent here. We expect to see a lot of this as time goes forward. 

Bold Colors Throughout 

With Pantone’s color of the year being navy, we feel comfortable saying bold colors are taking over our homes. Whether you’re choosing to do it with textiles, paint or furniture, we expect this trend to stick for a very long time. After all,  many people are spending more time inside their homes right now and are tired of the neutrals, greys and dusty colors of the past 5 years. 

Curved Furniture 

From couches to chairs, tables to mirrors, the more curved and organic shapes are in this year. Out of all the trends we looked at, this is the one we feel is barely in its infancy, but is indeed going to stay. 

What do you think? Did we get these wrong? Are they going to hang on for longer than we thought? Or do you think these trends will die with the end of 2020?  Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you. 

Don’t forget that if you have any trouble with your appliances, we are happy to help. We want to help keep your home running in tip top shape. Whether that’s a repair or a  maintenance check up, all you need is to set an appointment over on our page.