Page 9 - BOSS Today Issue 47

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP BOSS Today #47

VOW E

Debbie Nice, Merchandise Director

Q: Which of your products have been Q: What challenges do you see for Q: How are you adapting your
in the greatest demand because of your business because of the working practices because of the
the Coronavirus? Coronavirus? Coronavirus?

A: The first areas where there’s been A: The safety of our people comes A: We’ve got massive contingency
completely exceptional demand first and we are trying to keep plans: the challenging area for us
were sanitisers and face masks: everyone safe whilst continuing to is keeping the distribution centres
it’s been difficult to have a sensible fulfil our role in the supply chain. going, because they obviously
supply chain for them. We are It has been tricky to control the can’t work from home. We have
working with a few partners on procurement following erratic and staggered shifts, so there is now
hand sanitisers, but we are very high demand for goods. It started a gap between the early and
keen to procure the right cosmetic at the beginning of the year with late shift to reduce overlap in
grade product that is suitable for Chinese deliveries being delayed. the locations. We’ve minimised
human skin, because there is a lot Over the last three weeks, we’ve external and internal meetings to
of inferior product out there in started having challenges with lessen exposure, and we are trying
the marketplace. The exceptional the supply of hygiene products, to get as many people working
demand that has been a bit more because manufacturers just from home as possible and using
manageable has been for personal can’t cope with the demand. The video conferencing systems etc.
hygiene (eg soap), general cleaning cleaning guys have responded by
supplies (particularly antibacterial reducing their ranges so that they Q: What advice can you give to OP
items) and paper disposables. This can churn out more volume by not dealers on how best to respond to
week there’s also been additional having to switch over production this situation?
demand for coffee, tea, sugar lines as frequently.
and milk: the panic buying from A: The best advice we could give
supermarkets has started to filter Q: What positives, if any, have arisen is probably “Be positive and
into OP channels, possibly because from this whole situation? keep talking to your customers”.
of people working and buying Also, make sure that your online
from home. In fact, we are also A: We’ve seen the supply chain presence is good so that you are
seeing extra demand for products really working together on this. accessible to customers working
for home working – headsets, This industry is so used to next from home.
mice, keyboards, ergonomics and day delivery, stockless dealers
furniture – as companies try to and wholesalers always having
put together kit to send people at least four weeks of stock of
home. most products: we’ve had to
communicate to customers and
suppliers as best we can to try
and keep the flow of goods going.
Suppliers have also been loyal to
their existing customers and have
not left them in the lurch.

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