So, as we looked at in our first blog, there are some small signs of improvement for the paper supply chain, but the situation remains challenging. One specific scenario that could complicate things is what’s known as the bullwhip effect.

It’s now been over two years since the paper supply chain got disrupted by Covid, so a lot of us in the paper and print industry are more than accustomed to unpredictability and uncertainty when it comes to sourcing paper. But even though the constrained environment remains, that doesn’t mean that things aren’t changing. The question is, are those changes starting to show improvement?

So, the paper supply landscape is slowly changing in a positive direction, but it’s not there yet. The question now is, well, what can you do? We’ve talked before about some changes you can make, but let’s really dive into how you can expect the landscape to continue to evolve.

It’s been several months since we talked about how the print industry has gone berserk. From operating rates causing price increases, to the resultant impact on capacity, to the ultimate effects on your purchasing decisions, the paper supply chain has now been in a very difficult place for some time.

If you want to thrive in this current climate, you must make adjustments. These supply chain pressures and difficulties simply aren’t going to end themselves.

So, what can you do? Earlier this year, we spelled out nine tips to prevent interruptions. Those all still apply, but let’s deep dive into three of those.

From operating rates causing price increases, the impact on capacity, to the ultimate effects on your purchasing decisions, the paper supply chain has been in a very difficult place for some time.

What we’ve seen is that organizations go through several stages of awareness. By now, many have gotten past the shock of the events that caused so much disruption. And while it’s possible to be in denial of it, the reality of rising prices has made a lot of people frustrated.

“Check, please,” she said, betraying her age. “The what now?” The young waiter was confused. “Sorry. How much do I owe you?”

The waiter looked at his arm where he’d scribbled the woman’s order. He added it up on a calculator then gestured for the woman to hold out her arm, where he penned $24.79 in red ink, with a blank line below it for the tip. “You can pay at the counter,” he said and walked away, leaving behind the pen.

Why you need to care about operating rates and how we can help you get what you want, when you want it.

The ongoing pandemic coupled with a sharp economic recovery, soaring freight costs and labor shortage has created a lot of challenges in the paper supply chain. As a result, you’ve likely noticed low product availability and higher costs. We’ll explain what it all means so that you can take a stronger position when it comes to getting what you need, when you need it.

So, let’s talk about operating rates.

World events have put stress on everything in the paper business––from manufacturing to logistics to delivery. One major result is an inability to access paper that has many businesses caught in a boat without a paddle.

Word to the wise: having a strategic distribution partner can help you keep business churning while avoiding many of the headaches that come along with today’s new normal.

A mix and match play of both print and digital is likely your go-to approach for marketing your business. But as of late—due to the pandemic and economic lockdown—digital has taken the lead. Flooding inboxes, increasing “Unread” counts and causing a lot of e-waste.