Published
6 hours ago
Image source, House of Spells
Image caption, House of Spells co-owner Elvijs Plugis says many Harry Potter wands and some clothing merchandise items are out of stock across the UK
Delays at UK ports are having a severe impact on retailers, who are warning that customers might not be able find the same range of products this Christmas as they may have in previous years.
There is currently a shortage across the country affecting official Harry Potter merchandise, two retailers have told the BBC.
"First Brexit hit, and then the pandemic hit. The combination of both, the manufacturers got scared and work stopped and they couldn't ship big containers by sea," Elvijs Plugis, co-owner of fandom-themed collectible shop House of Spells, based in Charing Cross, London, says.
"A Harry Potter wand used to be £20, now it's going to be £35-£40. All of the shops are running out of stock."
Many of the wands, other official movie replicas and some of clothing merchandise are currently difficult to source, he says.
Mr Plugis added that House of Spells is now trying to focus on other fandoms as well as Harry Potter, although the business is still buying up as many licensed Harry Potter-themed product lines as it can find.
"Today at 8am in the morning, we received calls from the official Platform 9 and 3/4 shop [in Kings Cross Station] referring customers to us as they have run out of stock," he says.