Here me out... the free market has natural incentives built in. In the home market, one of them is Shelf Space (see: Cola Wars).
I’ve been trying to figure out WHY the toilet paper industry has been unable to catch up with the higher demand for toilet paper for homes. Normally people use industrial toilet paper at their job for ~30-40% of their “business”. So, with so many people staying home, plus panic buying, the demand for home quality toilet paper has gone up more than 50%. The industry has managed to increase output of that product by about 10%, but the won’t convert their industrial manufacturing lines to home quality because purchasing agents refuse to lower their orders for businesses due to fears of running out (panic purchasing).
So, the home consumer is left with empty shelves... after almost 2 months of the increased demand. Why not convert the industrial lines to consumer lines and let the industrial side face the shortages during this time? Why can’t this industry flex with the times? The one way I can think of is for the big stores to start using all that empty shelf space to sell other products! Maybe THAT will motivate the industry to be more agile in this environment!!
Her's a quote and a link from a recent story. All the stories on the subject say and quote the same thing.
"And though many commercial users of toilet paper have shut down operations, they have continued, like household consumers, to stock up, Abercrombie said. So buying has not declined."
False shortage = fake demand to drive prices up. It’s fucking paper.
Here me out... the free market has natural incentives built in. In the home market, one of them is Shelf Space (see: Cola Wars). I’ve been trying to figure out WHY the toilet paper industry has been unable to catch up with the higher demand for toilet paper for homes. Normally people use industrial toilet paper at their job for ~30-40% of their “business”. So, with so many people staying home, plus panic buying, the demand for home quality toilet paper has gone up more than 50%. The industry has managed to increase output of that product by about 10%, but the won’t convert their industrial manufacturing lines to home quality because purchasing agents refuse to lower their orders for businesses due to fears of running out (panic purchasing).
So, the home consumer is left with empty shelves... after almost 2 months of the increased demand. Why not convert the industrial lines to consumer lines and let the industrial side face the shortages during this time? Why can’t this industry flex with the times? The one way I can think of is for the big stores to start using all that empty shelf space to sell other products! Maybe THAT will motivate the industry to be more agile in this environment!!
Can't stores purchase and sell the industrial product? People would buy it if home grade is unavailable.
Her's a quote and a link from a recent story. All the stories on the subject say and quote the same thing.
"And though many commercial users of toilet paper have shut down operations, they have continued, like household consumers, to stock up, Abercrombie said. So buying has not declined."
https://www.telegraphherald.com/ap/business/article_00e7fcf5-3c1e-5d29-8904-3c671f916716.html
Interesting.