• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Exclusive

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump Fortune Editor-in-Chief: Alyson Shontell sat down with President Trump in the Oval Office for an hour. Tariffs, Intel, AI, Boeing, Iran—and the question every CEO eventually has to answer: who's next?

FinanceCoronavirus

As coronavirus spreads, even furniture sellers in the U.S. are starting to feel the fallout

Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
Lucinda Shen
By
Lucinda Shen
Lucinda Shen
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 14, 2020, 11:30 AM ET

China’s significance in the global economy is front and center with the spread of coronavirus.

Companies around the world turned to China for cheaper labor and materials costs over the past several decades. Now, as factories delay operations in the country due to the rapid spread of the disease, industries from the automotive sector to apparel are warning that coronavirus will lower production or deliveries.

Now the virus is spreading to an unexpected spot: furniture sellers in the United States.

“We have received notice from various manufacturers and suppliers that they are extending the ‘Chinese New Year’ [holiday] for at least one extra week to accommodate the quarantines.” said Jesús Capó, Chief Information Officer at Florida-based El Dorado Furniture. “We will run a little short on some products—but if it continues, after a while you are going to have to find products somewhere else.”

While some plants have begun reopening across the middle kingdom this week after lunar year closures were extended over fears of coronavirus, it’s still unclear how long it will take for workshops to become fully-functional as cases continue to mount.

Capó estimates of the delays in shipments could rise to a month, depending on how the virus spreads. 

“We have a buffer to deal with unforeseen circumstances, but if we continue to see delays, we may not have enough stock or have to source inside the country,” says Jameson Dion, vice president of global sourcing at interiors retailer City Furniture. “We anticipate a material impact on the business—we just don’t know how bad.”

Coronavirus, which has killed 1,107 and infected 44,138 worldwide, has brought the world’s largest exporter to a standstill and severed supply chains around the globe. Seeking to contain the spread of the disease that emerged in December, China banned travel to-and-from Wuhan and temporarily shut down factories. Several countries meanwhile have imposed travel restrictions as major shipping companies such as Maesk reducing and cancelling shipments to Chinese ports.

Now, companies hailing from multiple industries have told investors to brace for interruptions as a result of coronavirus. Athleisure maker Under Armor warned of shipping delays, while Nissan halted production at a Japanese plant due to a shortage of Chinese parts.

In particular, alongside the auto industry and discount retailers, analysts say furniture and interiors companies have a high level of supply chain disruption risk. In recent notes, Wells Fargo pointed to At Home and Wayfair, while Morgan Stanley added the likes of Floor & Decor Holdings and Lumber Liquidators to the group of companies it says sources a percentage of its products from China.

“Inventories currently are in good shape, as companies pulled forward product to get ahead of tariff issues and the Chinese New Year,” Wells Fargo Securities analysts led the round by Edward Kelly wrote in the Tuesday note about retailers in general. But the team added: Consumers may start seeing out-of-stock signs “within 60 to 90 days if disruptions continue beyond the next few weeks.”

The problem is, restarting the “world’s largest factory” will be a more painful and more gradual process than simply setting a date. While some of City Furniture’s Chinese vendors restarted their engines this week, more delays may still be in store: the vendors’ own suppliers—the fabric and glue makers for instance—may not be up and running yet. 

Analysts also worry how long it will take for factories to start running at full capacity. China’s manufacturing sector depends on migrant workers returning from outside the city to revitalize production, but with a raging health crisis outside, workers may elect to stay away.

“Ultimately, if this continues for an extended period of time, it may accomplish much more quickly what the tariffs intended to do, and force retailers into moving their sourcing to other countries, even the United States,” says Capó.

And while homebuilders and renovators say they have yet to see an impact on their sectors, economists and constructors are keeping an eye on the developments.

“I think the impact will depend on the length of this epidemic,” said Bruce Case, CEO of Case Architects and Remodelers. “In the short term and to date we have not seen an impact. But if the virus continues, inventories will be depleted and we will see supply shortages and price increases.”

Fortunately, home retailers may have a slightly larger moat than some other retailers that work with a higher inventory turnover. Broadly across his products, Capó estimates he has enough to tide him over for 90 to 120 days. What impact coronavirus may have on public home goods retailers like Wayfair and At Home, which report earnings later this year, remains to be seen. Wayfair reports Feb. 28 while At Home reports March 25.

Companies though are repeating one main piece feedback for long term impacts: We just don’t know. Coronavirus often garners comparisons to the SARS outbreak of 2003—but unlike 2003, China is at the center of a global trade ecosystem. 

The only thing that is certain: When Chinese companies come back online and the tangled wires of global trade plug back in, companies all over the world will be in for a logistical nightmare of backlogs and accounting as all parties to get back up to speed.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Why China is still so susceptible to disease outbreaks
—Coronavirus risks universities’ reliance on Chinese students
—Stock scammers are using coronavirus to dupe investors, SEC warns
—A new coronavirus red flag on the horizon—a stronger dollar
—WATCH: Coronavirus outbreak has disrupted global economy

Subscribe to Fortune’s Brainstorm Health for daily updates on biopharma and health care.

About the Author
Lucinda Shen
By Lucinda Shen
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Current price of oil as of May 19, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of May 19, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
2 minutes ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Personal Financesilver
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 19, 2026
7 minutes ago
Current price of gold as of May 19, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of May 19, 2026
By Danny BakstMay 19, 2026
22 minutes ago
Viktor co-founders standing together.
AIfundraising
Exclusive: AI startup Viktor raises $75 million to put a virtual ‘coworker’ in Slack and Teams
By Beatrice NolanMay 19, 2026
26 minutes ago
Allen Osgood, co-founder and CEO of Eisen, in front of the New York City skyline
CryptoCryptocurrency
Eisen raises $18.5 million to help Americans recover $70 billion in forgotten funds held by state governments
By Jack KubinecMay 19, 2026
26 minutes ago
Professional businesswoman working at a desk while interacting with an AI assistant on a tablet screen. The scene shows a modern office environment with notebook, laptop, and digital tools, representing productivity, smart technology, and digital transformation in business. Ideal for concepts related to artificial intelligence, remote work, automation, business innovation, and modern office lifestyle.
NewslettersCFO Daily
CFOs could cut agentic AI costs up to 60% by fixing this overlooked data problem
By Sheryl EstradaMay 19, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

While Trump insisted the Iran war would end ‘soon,’ an account in his name was buying millions in oil, defense and gold
Economy
While Trump insisted the Iran war would end ‘soon,’ an account in his name was buying millions in oil, defense and gold
By Eva RoytburgMay 18, 2026
19 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
7 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 18, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 18, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 18, 2026
1 day ago
EXCLUSIVE: An hour in the Oval Office with the CEO-in-Chief, President Trump
Politics
EXCLUSIVE: An hour in the Oval Office with the CEO-in-Chief, President Trump
By Alyson ShontellMay 18, 2026
1 day ago
Spirit Airlines apologizes to all the Americans who can't afford any summer vacation flights as it shuts down
Travel & Leisure
Spirit Airlines apologizes to all the Americans who can't afford any summer vacation flights as it shuts down
By Rio Yamat and The Associated PressMay 18, 2026
1 day ago
Mamdani's New York is coming to tax your private jet. Here's how to prepare
Personal Finance
Mamdani's New York is coming to tax your private jet. Here's how to prepare
By Greg RaiffMay 16, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.