Parents Need to Get Creative for Kids’ Workspaces

As the school year kicks off across the United States amid concerns about the safety of sending students and teachers back to classrooms, many parents are faced with the task of setting up dedicated learning spaces for their children at home. These spaces typically include essentials like storage for school supplies, a laptop stand, a whiteboard for assignments, and of course, a desk and chair to work on. However, as parents nationwide realize the need for desks simultaneously, the demand has overwhelmed the supply.

Various retailers, from general stores like Target and Amazon to furniture specialists like Staples and Office Depot, are reporting shortages of desks and chairs. Many desks, particularly smaller and more affordable ones aimed at children, are currently on backorder, leaving retailers uncertain about when they will restock. This situation mirrors the shortages seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic with items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and masks.

According to data from analytics company Profitero, there has been a significant increase in searches for office furniture. Between July 11 and August 15, searches for “desk” on Amazon surged by 600%, ranking second only to face masks in search popularity. Searches for “kids desk” saw an even more substantial spike, soaring by 3783%.

“This year has presented significant challenges in balancing supply and demand, and the back-to-school season is no exception,” stated Sarah Hofstetter, the president of Profitero, in an interview with USA Today. “While it’s easier to find traditional school supplies like crayons and whiteboards, locating less conventional but crucial items for home or hybrid learning, such as student desks, has proven to be a real challenge.”

Due to the heightened demand and pandemic-related delays, some retailers anticipate that their most popular desk models will remain out of stock until at least October.