Gemline Back with Backpack Inventory
While the rest of the promotional products industry struggles terribly with inventory issues brought on by difficulty in securing shipping containers Gemline has taken steps to circumvent the problem. Although how they have been able to maintain sufficient inventory is still a mystery the fact is they have stock that is of sufficient depth to keep thousands of promotional items distributors happy.
There have been widespread complaints that many of the top 5 PPAI suppliers are basically without inventory in many key categories. Gemline on the other hand, based out of Massachusetts, has been able to maintain consistent levels of stock. Unlike others when they launched new products this summer like the Atlas Computer Backpack they made certain they had enough of each item to fill major orders. The product initially arrived with almost a 1000 pieces available in each color and a month into rapid deliveries they still have almost 400 pieces. Contrast that with another major brand who to this date has never had stock for items they put on sale in January. The Gemline Impulse Backpack will surely be a strong player in the segment as it is available in three colors. Again Gemline took the needed steps to make sure they have thousands of pieces in stock with thousands more due next month. Take a look at the other major players and you will see they have actually removed the inventory function from the public side of their sites as the delays are so substantial.
Gemline has always been a top rated supplier but you have to wonder why they have been able to keep items in stock while Leed's and Bullet have not. Prime has had significant inventory to sell and yet Norwood is often out of stock. Bic is in the middle of moving factories and still has no problems while basic products are gone from others in the big five. Sure freight costs have increased dramatically but something else is clearly at work whether it is terrible planning by promotional products buyers on the supplier side, or the unwillingness to pay the increased freight costs. Either way it's a sorry day in the industry when the few sales that are out there are being lost to no stock.