A shortage of HGV drivers and post-Brexit complications have led to concerns over a range of shortages this Christmas.

Supermarkets have been left with empty shelves while petrol shortages led to long queues across the UK.

Unprecedented demand and the current shipping crisis have created a stock-deficit for loo-roll, petrol, turkeys and now toys.

Warning over high demand for Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls

Nearly one million Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls have been held-up in heavily congested ports in China, where shipping space and container equipment is in massively short supply.

PMS International, the company behind Elves Behavin’ Badly, has been forced to air freight 300,000 dolls to the UK.

The rise in demand for the Elves dolls and the delay in shipments is likely to create shortages this Christmas. 

Especially since a number of major retailers sold out in 2020, even without the shipping issues, so consumers may experience difficulties on getting their hands on the dolls this year.

Whilst additional dolls are on the way and due to arrive in time to avoid disappointment, the additional 300,000 Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls are not expected to arrive in the UK until the third week of November.

So, to avoid panic buying and ensure a fair distribution, some retailers have intimated they may limit purchases to two dolls per customer, keeping families happy whilst causing maximum mischief in homes up-and-down the UK in the run-up to Christmas.    

Paul Beverley, a director of the worldwide distributors for the Elves Behavin’ Badly dolls said: “Sales on the high street and on the Internet are both showing signs of earlier purchasing and sales in larger numbers than last year. 

“This is particularly encouraging because we know many parents are packing away their pranking Elves from one year to the next so there is clearly huge growth in the annual Elf pranking season from late November until Christmas Eve. 

“Shipments of Elves to locked down Australia have doubled this year where one major retailer has recently enquired about airfreighting an additional quantity to meet the demand.”      

He added: “Sales of the one hundred plus items of Elves Behavin’ Badly accessories have seen even more growth perhaps a reflection of the combination of the reusability of Elf dolls from the previous year and the big increase in overall new Elf doll sales.” 

Supply chain issues in the UK ahead of Christmas

PMS said it has been luckier with Elf shipments to other countries like the USA, Australia, Europe and Scandinavia where 95% of orders have already been shipped.

The UK has been particularly difficult, as a result of succumbing to extraordinary freight rates the vast majority of our stock is finally on-board container vessels bound for UK. 

However, consumers are being encouraged to snap up the Elves quickly as it may be a sign of things to come as the UK continues to struggle with supply chain issues.