The recently reopened Horsham's Makers Gallery is hoping residents consider their members' creations as Christmas gifts.
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It comes as the coronavirus pandemic is causing delays and a shortage of supplies for the region's toy store owners.
Elizabeth Minne, secretary of the McLachlan Street gallery, said the council had given them permission to reopen while the adjoining library was closed. The gallery shut just before stage three restrictions returned in early August, selling 500 face masks in the last two days.
Ms Minne said the gallery could not stage its Christmas market in the (Mibus) car park this year, which it would normally do on the first Saturday in December.
"But we have a lot of stuff," she said. "We have painted glassware, Christmas cards and wreaths, cross-stitch and a big display of Australiana."
She said around 80 people handmade items for the gallery, from as far afield as Ouyen, Stawell, Mount Gambier and Pomonal.
"Most members said they would renew this year, and we have had two or three people join which is really good," she said.
The store is open from 10am to 4pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with four people allowed in the store at any one time. All the makers get 85 per cent of the profits from the sale of their works.
Need for patience as supply delays manifest
Wimmera and Grampians toy store owners are urging customers to buy their Christmas gifts early and expect some items to be unavailable due to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Trish Munro owns the Toyworld stores in Horsham, Hamilton and Ballarat. She said a small number of items she had ordered had not come through.
"Within our buying group we order well in advance, so we have all our Christmas orders done," she said.
"That's not saying we will get everything. There have been a couple of games that haven't turned up because they were undersupplied - not enough were manufactured.
"One thing there will most likely be a shortage of is Lego - you can see that already. I think we are well-placed, but there will be a few things we won't be able to get and some that will be late or very close to Christmas. If we don't have a specific item, we will be able to find something very similar."
Ms Munro said she had not noticed "panic buying" of toys in western Victoria, though there had been a drop in lay bys due to Zip Pay and Afterpay.
Toyz on Barkly's Melinda Jamieson in Ararat also said she was experiencing delays in shipments.
"There is a hold up on jigsaw puzzles, and some trucks made in Germany," she said.
"It depends on where my warehouses get it from. I've got some pre-orders ordered months ago, but they are two months behind, so I might not get it until November, and if I sell out, i can't reorder if they haven't got it in stock.
"If you see (a toy you want), you're better off getting it there and then."
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
