Our results of operations are directly affected by the general global economic conditions that impact our main end markets. Generally, worldwide economic conditions remain uncertain, particularly due to pandemic, the impact of increased interest rates, and inflation. The uncertainty in global economic conditions can result in substantial volatility, which can affect our business by reducing customer spending and the prices that our customers may be able or willing to pay for our products, which in turn could negatively impact our sales and result in a material adverse effect on our business financial condition and results of operations.
Global pandemics have caused, and could in the future continue to cause, and other factors could contribute to causing, delays or disruptions in our supply chain and labor shortages and shutdowns, which would be disruptive to our business operations. For example, we experienced shortages and workforce slowdowns at our manufacturing facility due to stay-at- home mandates, delays in shipping finished products to customers and some delays in our receiving products. Any performance failure on the part of any of our significant suppliers could interrupt our operations, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the severity, magnitude and duration of the current COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, rapidly changing and hard to predict. A prolonged or worsened COVID-19 pandemic could cause continued supply disruptions which could lead to a reduction in manufacturing, lead to extended disruption of economic activity and make it difficult for us to predict demand for our products. As a result of sanctions imposed in relation to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, gas prices in the United States have risen to historic levels. Further escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the subsequent response, including further sanctions or other restrictive actions, by the United States and/or other countries could also adversely impact our supply chain, partners or customers. The extent and duration of the situation in Ukraine, resulting sanctions and resulting future market disruptions are impossible to predict but could be significant. Any such disruptions caused by Russian military action or other actions (including cyberattacks and espionage) or resulting actual and threatened responses to such activity, boycotts or changes in consumer or purchaser preferences, sanctions, tariffs or cyberattacks, may impact the global economy and adversely affect commodity prices.
Furthermore, increases in the prices of our inventory, including if our suppliers choose to pass through their increased costs to us, would result in increased inventory costs, which may result in a decrease in our margins and may have a material adverse effect on our business financial condition and results of operations. We have historically offset cost increases through careful management of our inventory of supplies, by ordering six months to a year in advance, and by increasing our purchase order volumes to qualify for volume-based discounts, rather than increase prices to customers. However, as we have done in 2023, we may increase prices from time to time, which may not be sufficient to offset material price inflation and which may result in loss of customers if they believe our products are no longer competitively priced. In addition, if we are required to spend a prolonged period of time negotiating price increases with our suppliers, we may be further delayed in receiving the inventory necessary to meet our customers' needs and/or implement aspects of our growth strategy.