24.23°C Vancouver

Sep 14, 2020 10:24 PM -

Office furniture shortages loom as Canadians stay home this fall

Share On
office-furniture-shortages-loom-as-canadians-stay-home-this-fall
A sign advertises office space available for rent in Ottawa's downtown core in Ottawa, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Canadians should brace for a shortage of office furniture, such as desks and chairs, as people continue to study and work from home this fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canadians should brace for a shortage of office furniture, such as desks and chairs, as people continue to study and work from home this fall.

Ikea Canada spokeswoman Kristin Newbigging says the company has seen an increase in demand for office furnishings and other gear needed for work-from-home setups.

This comes as a looming second wave of COVID-19 means many Canadians are not returning to the office or school just yet.

At the same time, she says the company is experiencing the impacts of overseas suppliers still being closed for business, making it hard to meet demand.

And when those suppliers reopen, they are receiving orders significantly above the normal levels of demand.

Ikea has about 1,000 home furnishing suppliers in 50 countries around the globe, with top suppliers in China, Poland, Italy, Lithuania, Sweden and Germany.

Latest news

sukhbir-singh-badal-attacked-at-nanded-sahib-sustains-injury-to-hand
IndiaAug 13, 2026

Sukhbir Singh Badal Attacked at Nanded Sahib, Sustains Injury to Hand

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was reportedly attacked at Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra on Thursday. According to preliminary information, Badal sustained an injury to his hand and was taken to a private hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be stable. The incident reportedly took place at around 11 a.m. when Badal had gone to Mata Sahib Kaur Gurdwara at Nanded Sahib along with his supporters and security personnel. According to reports, taking advantage of the crowd at the gurdwara, a Nihang Sikh allegedly approached Badal carrying a sharp-edged weapon and attempte
BCAug 13, 2026

Tumbler Ridge School Shooting: Court Documents Reveal New Details

Court documents related to the mass shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in February have been made public, shedding new light on the mental state of 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar and confusion during the initial police response. The documents, released to a media outlet by a B.C. Provincial Court judge, indicate that Van Rootselaar was struggling with his mental health and had a strong interest in firearms. According to the report, the RCMP initially believed there could be two shooters after witnesses provided different names for the suspect. Police later determined that t
CanadaAug 13, 2026

Canada-US Trade Talks Near Critical Deadline as Tariff Threat Looms

Canada and the United States are at a critical point in their ongoing trade negotiations, with the August 19 deadline for avoiding new U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports fast approaching. Despite intensive discussions between officials from both countries, no agreement has been reached so far. Canadian officials are reportedly dissatisfied with Washington’s latest proposal, saying the offer falls well short of what Ottawa had been seeking. According to reports, the United States presented a new proposal on Tuesday that included reductions in tariffs on certain sectors. However, the proposed re
AlbertaAug 12, 2026

Alberta Could See Billions in Budget Surplus Amid High Oil Prices

The Alberta government is expected to record a budget surplus of billions of dollars this fiscal year, driven by higher crude oil prices. According to University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, the province has already accumulated a $3.8-billion surplus so far this fiscal year. He said every $1-per-barrel change in oil prices can make a difference of about $680 million to the provincial treasury. Tombe estimates that if oil prices remain above $66 per barrel, Alberta could end up with a surplus of around $6 billion, instead of the previously projected $9.4-billion deficit. Alberta
trump-says-us-will-maintain-total-control-over-strait-of-hormuz
WorldAug 12, 2026

Trump says US will maintain ‘total control’ over Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington intends to maintain that control. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described the U.S. Navy’s blockade as a “wall of steel” and said there was nothing Iran could do about it. His comments come as shipping traffic through the strategic waterway has dropped sharply. Only eight vessels passed through the Strait on Tuesday, compared with around 130 to 140 vessels per day before the war. Iran, meanwhile, says full maritime traffic through

Related News