How much can lead time stretch without warning according to the speaker?

Lara GuevaraSupply Chain expert (Product and Service)

Safety Stock Saves You

16 Dec 2025 · 1 min

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1:12

Lara Guevara explains why safety stock matters: it covers supplier delays that can stretch 20 to 40 days, lets you capture viral demand without stockouts, and costs less than emergency air freight or other panic fixes. Safety stock is operational insurance.

Questions this video answers

20 to 40 days.

Chapters

If you've ever said I wish I ordered more, that's your business. Begging for safety Stock here's the top three reasons safety stock saves your brand. Number one Delays happen even when your vendor is perfect. You can have the best factory in the world and still get hit with delays. Parts get congested. Vessels get rolled. Customs gets backed up. Your lead time can stretch 20 to 40 days without warning. Safety stock absorbs that shock. Number two viral moments are only good if you have stock. When a product spikes, you think this is amazing, but without safety stock, the spike kills you. You get orders you can't fulfill, refunds, bad reviews and air freight bills that destroy margin. Safety stock protects your upside. Number three it stops expensive emergencies. Every brand without safety stock eventually pays for overnight air freight, last minute PO increases or margin killing quick turns. Safety stock is cheaper than panic. It's their insurance policy against everything that can go wrong.