Supply chain issues caused by the blockage of the Suez Canal and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the shortage of a surprising item in hot demand — garden gnomes.
Garden gnomes have seen a spike in popularity in the UK as homeowners turn to gardening and outdoor renovations to pass the time during ongoing lockdowns.
But the heavy demand, coupled with the recent blockage of the Suez Canal by cargo vessel Ever Given — which caused global trade delays — has led to an unfortunate nationwide shortage of the beloved outdoor ornaments.
Ian Byrne from Highfield Garden World in Whitminster, in England’s west, told the BBC the gardening retailer “hadn’t seen a gnome in six months”.
“There aren’t any. There’s definitely a shortage,” he said.
“Raw materials are becoming a bit of an issue and unfortunately gnomes are a victim of that shortage of supply. Gnomes of any type, plastic, stone or concrete, are in short supply.
“They’ve been very popular over the last couple of…