VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The coronavirus could soon change what you wear. Factories in China are slowing production or shutting down, which is causing shipping delays for vendors that supply to shops in Hampton Roads.
Some are feeling the impact more than others.
Oceanfront store The Lemon Cabana has more inventory than usual right now.
"We are stockpiling at the moment,” said owner Julie Deese.
Deese said her clothing vendors are waiting on supplies from China, and she is heeding their warning.
“We are getting emails from people saying our shipments are going to be delayed two weeks, four weeks, six weeks,” Deese said.
She said factory issues in China are taking a toll on the smaller items those vendors need.
"They may assemble the items in the USA,” Deese said. “But their zippers are being held up, or things like elastics."
The coronavirus is causing problems for big companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon, according to the New York Times. But there is even a local impact on brides to be.
"When this hit -- the virus -- and we started to see it throughout the news, my first communication was with the designers,” said Ava Clara Bridal owner Alex Fleear.
Fleear said her business hasn't had any shipping delays. Many of the dress designers she works with moved out of China when the Trump administration added tariffs last year. But she knows some dress stores in the area are having trouble.
"Their delays were looking at two to three months backed up,” Fleear said.
If anything were to halt her designers, Fleear said she has dresses ready to go. She has a rack of sample gowns and even consignment gowns that are gently worn.
One of her designer representatives said there are also plenty in the states.
“There are thousands of dresses in warehouses already in this country,” said Casa Blanca Bridal representative Bill Striker. “So, God forbid the absolute worst happens, there are enough dresses in this country to fill weddings for the next five years."
Fleear said brides shouldn't panic about this but recommends brides doublecheck with stores about shipping times before they order.
"Especially in the Hampton Roads area; you have options,” Fleear said. “If you are getting married soon and you don't have a dress yet, you are going to be OK. We have you covered."
With the Oceanfront's busy season not far off, Deese hopes her supplies last.
"Instead of delaying our orders, if they had it in stock, we said ship it to us now,” Deese said.