CUMBRIAN sculpture business, Andrew Kay Sculpture, makes large, hand forged, wildlife-inspired garden sculptures from solid steel bar (the pieces are often over 2.5 metres in size and over 120 kilos in weight). Andrews skas he is having major issues fulfilling customer demand from the US and from Europe due to Covid-19 and Brexit caused delivery delays.
He says this is particularly frustrating at the moment as the business has entered its peak Christmas trading period – a period which usually generates around 40 percent of the business’ turnover.
Of the issues he is experiencing with US and European delivery Andrew Kay said; “As is normal at this time of year, we are starting to get inundated with orders for stags from around the world but we are facing major issues getting them to the US and Europe.
“When it comes to the US, road freight is very congested and we are finding that American shipping companies don’t want to handle the delivery of large, fragile items.
“We offer door-to-door international shipping for our clients but the
infrastructure in the US is totally shot due to less people working, I have had situations where clients have had to organise a fork lift for part of the route themselves and, being in Cumbria, I haven’t been able to do much to help!
“Europe isn’t as bad but there are certainly delays and hauliers are charging much more than normal – I feel because of Brexit.
“In contrast, the Far East seems still very well organised and equipped despite the pandemic. We had a herd sculpture (a stag, hind and doe) recently sent to Kau Sai Chau, the only public golf course in Hong Kong, via Hong Kong port. It only cost £400 and the process was as smooth as normal.”
The work of Andrew Kay Sculpture can be seen gracing the landscape throughout the world and his client list of both private collectors and public bodies includes British peers and celebrities – from counts and viscountess’s to Richard Curtis, Sir Tom Stoppard and John Bishop. See more here: https://www.andrewkaysculpture.co.uk/
Is your business experiencing similar issues to Andrew’s? Are you a haulier facing new challenges? Please share you experiences with us in the comments box below or email us today.
