You've probably heard reports of shortages in just about everything you buy because of problems with the supply chain.
Some locally-owned businesses hope they will see a surge in gift card buying this holiday season as a result.

Instead of buying "things" for a loved one this Christmas, some businesses which are service-based, hope they will see an increase in their gift cards sales. 

Restaurants were hit hard by Covid and are still trying to recover.

The owner of Leo's in Warren says gift cards are a way to hopefully get new customers to become repeat customers.

"You got a shot at getting a little extra revenue when they come in so you want to sell as many gift cards as you can. A $25 gift card, two people come in, you're hoping to sell a little more than $25," said Leo DelGarbino, owner of Leo's Ristorante in Warren.

Casal's de' Spa in Howland caters to people who want to be pampered. They offer massages, body wraps, facial and nail services. They say they do a lot of gift card business.

"A gift card is a great thing for somebody to give to a person or receive and say 'this is something I never thought of doing myself or paying the money to get it done for myself,'" said Nichole Partain of Casal's de' Spa.

And maybe the one business who does sell "things" that isn't effected by the supply chain issue is jewelers. Thom Duma says most of his merchandise comes from New York and California and he's already seen an uptick in gift card buyers.

"For the gentleman that doesn't really know what his wife wants. The surprise is there, she opens up the gift from thom duma jewelers, it's a gift card for 'X' amount of dollars, she comes in and get whatever she wants," said Duma.

Local businesses want to remind you that not everything nice needs a computer chip.