By: Nicholaus Perry, Reporter
OMAHA, Neb. – On Mar. 25-27, The Omaha Spring Festival took place at Liberty First Credit Union Arena.
The festival featured many arts and crafts, food, collectibles, and more for the Omaha community to see and purchase.
Attendants may have noticed that some vendors were carrying less stock than at previous fairs. This is due to the continuous supply chain shortage in arts and crafts.
Due to these inventory shortages from vendors, prices changing, longer waits, and new ways of doing things have been affecting some customers.
Sole proprietor of Jeff Tadsen Art, Jeff Tadsen reveals how the supply chain shortage has affected his artwork.
“I did have to use some alternative brands that I don’t normally use, the biggest issue really with supplies is my lumber,” he said.
According to Canadian Forest Industries, “The price of benchmark lumber item continued rising by 16%.”
Owner of Midwest Game Crave, Benjamin Rohlik who specializes in wooden toys and games explains how the lumber price increase could affect his projects in the future.
“Not a horrible impact on my cost yet, but I can’t guarantee that won’t change as you know inflation hits and as material comes as a little more scarce,” he said.
Along with lumber, an article posted in early February from CNBC stated that a shortage in paint supplies is also on the rise for this year.
The owner of I J Studios, Jasmine Young explains how the upcoming paint shortage is impacting her work.
“Majority of the works that I do are with acrylic paints, there has already been a shortage for about the last year globally, so there are colors that I can’t get,” she said.
Some artists and handcrafters are even considering digital art and NFTs to make up for the shortage of arts and crafts supplies.
