Factories around the world shut down because of COVID-19. Ships lined up in harbors, unable to deliver their goods. Shops struggling to find enough staff. Add to that, a strong resurgence in jobs, higher pay and more demand for goods and services. 

It all adds up to a shortage of items, rising prices and soaring inflation. It’s all hitting business owners and consumers where it hurts: in the wallet.

“Grandma” Dawn Harris-Martine has owned the legendary Grandma’s Place toy store in Harlem for more than 20 years. She joins In Focus to talk about her worries about supply chain issues. Harris-Martine talks about fears that popular toys, already being snapped up by her customers, may be difficult to re-order as the holidays approach. She says she ordered extra stock early when she heard that deliveries could be difficult, but she opines, many stores were not prepared. 

She also talks about the extra charges being heaped on small business owners like delivery fees and packing fees, which will have to be passed on to consumers. 

Nasser Jaber and his partner opened their first Migrant Kitchen restaurant in Brooklyn, hiring immigrant chefs to create unique dining experiences, but when the pandemic arrived, they changed their business model. They began providing meals for frontline workers, hospital staff and anyone who was food insecure. They ended up doling out more than three million meals to those who needed them.

Now, they have two new locations in Manhattan. Jaber joins In Focus to talk about the difficulties they are facing, not only in food shortages but supply shortages, as simple things like glasses, plates and take-out containers are difficult to come by. He’s also facing surcharges that are forcing him to up his prices. 

Along with that, delivery services restaurant owners are forced to use can turn a seven-dollar in-house meal into a $30 delivery, and he talks about his worries that these charges could cost him customers.