Furniture stores in the Czech Republic have fallen so far behind on orders that customers are now waiting weeks or even months now to take delivery of ordered goods. The daily Lidove noviny reports that suppliers of stores like IKEA and Asko is that their suppliers are either short on staff, on materials or both. Mattresses are in short supply, for example, because materials used in their production are being diverted to mask making. The spokeswoman for the furniture chain Jysk Eva Kozich says the mattress problem is a problem across Europe, but adds that the scarcity of supply is only half of the problem. “After re-opening in spring, we’ve record growth in turnover,” she told Lidove noviny. “We’re selling more than we expected. It’s not just demand for furniture for working at home like chairs and desks.” The shortgage has forced furniture stores to improve their ability to provide real time information on what they currently have in stock on their websites. As the second wave of the pandemic has swept over the country, IKEA announced it would limiting the number of customers allowed at one time in its stores. Its store in Cerny Most will let in just 1,800 people, while the Zlicin and Brno stores can handle just 1,600.
