Page 9 - BOSS Today Issue 56

BOSS Today #56

rapidly rising interest rates, which JH: Communicating any changes to hundreds of years, surviving world
could affect the financial landscape customers will be key and we wars, pandemics, various economic
of the supply chain, which is still have robust systems in place to crises and structural change. I am
disrupted and not as efficient as it ensure this takes place. We will impressed daily by the resilience of
used to be. For many, the financial also continue to work closely with my colleagues, by the creativity we
support packages offered by the suppliers to understand anticipated see in partnership with suppliers and
government during Covid are now supply and market issues that may customers and in particular by the
being repaid at a time when the affect our customers so that we can flexibility and inventiveness that our
economic environment is as tough seek solutions in good time. resellers show at every turn. It is this
as it has ever been. mindset that gives me great hope
SA-B: Our approach is to be prudent and and confidence for the future.
JH: As a business that is directly manage risk, cash collection and
affected by government decisions, the flow of that end-to-end supply JH: Although we wouldn’t want to future
we are watchful over how these, chain. We will ensure risk mitigation gaze, the economic health of the UK
and ongoing economic factors, of any short-term change, with is a huge concern, with attention
might affect the way in which our a huge focus on energy, and are needed on the knock-on effects to
customers can operate and spend. working with the logistics divisions households, consumers and front
to reduce consumption. Being a line services in communities.
SA-B: With the change to the current leading group in Europe allows us to
government, we are keen to keep an attractive price offering to SA-B: It is difficult to predict what will
understand what support we will our customers and enough product or won’t change, given the current
have through energy price caps and availability – even in these tough climate of review across many
what is available for our customer times. financial and price increase sectors.
base, which ranges from SMEs to
major clients. BT: Longer term, how is the financial BT: What actions are your business
landscape going to look for planning to take to address these
BT: What actions are your business businesses in the next six to twelve expected longer term changes?
planning to take to address these months?
expected short term changes? SH: We are now embarking upon
VP: Interest rates are on the rise here, ongoing development and retention
SH: We have taken various actions in Europe and the US over the programmes across our whole
to combat both the short and next twelve months. Much will network of colleagues. Access
long-term impacts of the current depend on whether energy prices to skilled labour with experience
economic and global situation, and stabilise and if supply chain issues and knowledge is fundamental to
will be supporting our customers continue to improve. The ongoing everybody’s long-term future, so
through the next six to nine months Covid situation in China remains a we are taking the necessary steps
in particular. In Vow, we have concern, but the latest data suggest to secure this. We have a very
recently launched a very significant that the economy is bouncing back. powerful platform that brands
growth incentive to reward resellers Some sea routes have reopened, but and manufacturers value, so we
as they grow their spend with us: freight costs, though down, are still are investing in developing new
this allows them to benefit from elevated and renewed geopolitical relationships with new brands in
efficiencies in their supply chain and uncertainty, especially in Russia and new categories where they value
significantly reduces what they are Ukraine, will cast a shadow the multichannel warehousing,
paying for products across the whole distribution and complex accounts
basket of goods. We are also offering SH: I would say things can only get and contract management that we
our contracted customers in Banner better, although with serious offer. We are focused on getting the
a variety of ways to fix the prices global manufacturing supply chain basics right: having the right stock
they pay for a longer time period. challenges and raging inflation, in the right place first time; making
We will continue to seek the support there is much to occupy us. However, the right use of technology to help
of all our suppliers to mitigate any the supply chain has always partners serve themselves quickly;
adverse impact we may see in the proved itself to be robust, to adapt, simply communicating effectively
future. survive and even thrive for literally and building good relationships with

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