Supply Chains and Inventory Management | Long Lead Times Leave Fans Lost

Want the latest 2022/23,over-priced kit for your favourite Premier League or Championship team? You might have to wait.

This article from the BBC is jam-packed with Business Studies concepts, in addition to the main story which is the frustrating delays in receiving products from international suppliers.

The start of a new football season is normally the time for peak demand for the new kits.

However, problems with production capacity at the key garment factories in Asia has meant stock-outs many clubs.

Delays and other issues with container transportation are also contributing.

We're talking months, not weeks of delays, with some kit designs still not on sale despite being finalised in Autumn 2021.

If only football kits were manufactured in the traditional textile factories of the North West of England!

So fans of Premier League titans as well as proper football clubs like Harrogate Town will have to make do with wearing last season's kit for a few weeks more.