Industry Supplier Covid Survey

In May 2020 we sent out three surveys; growers, wineries and industry suppliers. We combined the results in our print magazine. Below is the full survey and answers from our industry suppliers only.

COVID-19 Industry Suppliers Survey

How has your business been operating? Check all that apply.

Comments

  • Revenues severely impacted
  • We are limiting access to the inside of our building with locked doors and having walk-ins or pick-ups call the inside sales staff for assistance.
  • Some employees can do some work from home (paperwork) the electricians are having to be extra careful. We were only doing new construction for a bit but now we're starting to take services calls etc.
  • I have my product delivered to Kelowna, then I drove to my clients farms and dropped it off.
  • As our primary processing season is in the summer and fall, we have yet to see how the pandemic will affect our business.
  • We closed the business almost 7 years ago
  • We have shifted to include the use of more communication technology.
  • We are open with operational staff onsite non-operational support staff working from home. Facility access restricted to staff only and wholesale trade orders only. Our business has been deemed an essential service.
  • Lawn and garden side of business is down but the agricultural side is busy as per normal spring
  • At 25% less pay
  • We have a 20 person team that has worked remotely/online for at least 10 years. At about the same time I renovated a large heritage home to also house our studio offices & a conference/meeting room, which I'm working in alone now with my daughter (who works with me). I have always believed that this was going to be the way that agencies, would need to operate to survive - low overhead and that creative work can also be done online.
  • We are in construction. We have had to implement many additional protocols and steps during COVID for our site crews. Our admin team is working 2/3 from home and 1/3 in the office to meet distancing requirements while still getting the work done. Challenging but we are doing it.
  • Some staff are still in the office for essential work
  • It is not normal , It is very difficult, It is dangerous, It is very slow, It take a long time just to do the simplest tasks .
  • 80% business as usual. Just closed our offices to the public to avoid human contact. Customers are paying on line instead now, but we are losing out on cash sales, but they represent a very small portion of over all sales.
  • All staff working from home.

How are you communicating with your customers? Check all that apply

How have sales been during these past 6 weeks compared to last year?

Comments

  • Around 10% of where we were last year in terms of passenger volumes. Cargo up 10% over last year
  • approximately 35% decrease over previous years.
  • Our wine shop sales have decreased dramatically and our restaurant sales are zero.
  • We are just starting the business (startup)
  • Covid 19 limited the migrant workes, so less work is done along with the Cherries were damaged by frost, so all the big farms were cutting costs, I lost half of my regular sales
  • We have lost several contracts that were booked.
  • Forced to completely construction projects
  • We have seen a shift in product demand and each market segment has been different as has each territory.
  • very much decreased
  • Beverage producers got scared of how much this could impact them financially and canceled projects. Ironically, all of the projects that were stopped, were to increase their online sales capacity, which at a time like this is crucial. In other industries - like lawyers - we are seeing an increase in business. We are also seeing an increase in our Website Development and Google ads business.
  • Our current work is from previous sales (construction industry). We are still quoting future work. Some work has stalled or halted due to COVID.
  • April was a good month but we did not gain back losses from March
  • Very little bearing on our business other than the price of fuel fluctuating so dramatically.
  • Half of the files we are working on were "on the books" prior to the pandemic.

Are you deemed an essential service?

  • Yes 75%
  • No 25%

Have there been layoffs in your business or company?

  • Yes 31%
  • No 69%

Comments

  • Not yet, but anticipated
  • Our call/work volume decreased. While still be essential (electricians) most people didn't call for minor repairs etc.
  • I'm an owner/operator. No other employees.
  • people still working may take over more tasks
  • Not as much work right now so layoffs have not affected our day-to-day services...
  • 1 person layed off, all parttimers not called back, 2 people self isolating (dont want to take the skytrain)
  • We are not operating
  • Anyone with any symptoms cannot be on site and must self isolate for 10 days and anyone at high risk may have self isolated by medical recommendation. It has been a lot of HR and administrative work.
  • Service department has slowed down. Techs laid off.
  • Just one person from the front office staff team.

How has your business also changed during this time? Have you had to add, subtract or substitute any products or services? Adding protective gear or procedures?

  • Mainly working to accommodate everyone's needs, as they all differ.
  • We have closed parking lots and as much of the terminal that we can
  • We have added gloves and masks to the unpacking and receiving of orders, hand sanitizer at all points of interaction, frequent cleaning of traffic zones throughout the day, giving away all pens used by customers to the customer.
  • Same, just work from home instead of the office
  • Added many safety and protective measures and tools
  • We are selling hi proof alcohol for use as a sanitizer. we also have formulated hand sanitizer product.
  • We've added protective gear to the wine shop (plexiglass divider, sanitizers, gloves). We've had to put up online discounts and sales in order to attract online business versus in person business.
  • Yes Limit interaction
  • Sellers & Buyers are hesitating on making a decision, waiting to see how the shut down is going to effect the market place
  • No
  • We will need to add more ppe's and social distancing measures. Travel and accommodations for our staff will be challenging.
  • Protective gear and sanitizing procedures
  • Asking workers to keep social distance or wear mask
  • A full covid 19 implementation plan and task force was created that includes: enhanced sanitation practices, changed shifts and common areas for staff, office staff predominately working from home, hands free door openers, segregated production space to ensure physical distancing, policies for self-monitoring and travel. All staff are required to complete a a daily screening process. Our location is closed to guests and order pickup and delivery is arranged in advance to minimize contact. We are a food safe certified location however so strict food safety standards are already in place as well.
  • Yes, we've added protective gear and implemented physical distancing protocols per the BC Health Officer.
  • We've added more web-based resources to our product line.
  • Gloves and mask are mandatory and disclosures signed by all clients prior to doing business.
  • We have taken measures to prevent hoarding and support our regular clientele. Our consumer product lines have seen increases in demand. Golf course fertilizer demand has dropped. Some commercial nursery products have seen decreases as has greenhouse floriculture.
  • Protective Gear and Lots of Video Conferencing
  • Store not open to public for browsing. Only pickup or delivery. Closed Saturdays. Hand sanitizer
  • More social distancing, more safety oversight and equipment, adherence to new government rules, struggling to stay current with compliance obligations.
  • Nobody allowed in dealership
  • Just the some PPE, with us being closed and the line of work we do we cannot do anything.
  • Add protective gear
  • Added online booking, new delivery protocols, actively seeking ways we can truly help those around us.
  • Producing limited supplies
  • We've been spending the last 6 weeks getting people's Covid_19 messaging (Open or Closed or new procedures) updated on their websites or through newsletters and social media.
  • Yes adding protective preventative measures
  • Limit services and add protective gear and modify equipment.
  • We have had to add signage, handwash stations, disinfecting supplies and protocols for tools and construction equipment and common areas on site. This takes time from expected production and changes some work processes.
  • Less travel, as face to face meetings put on hold.
  • modified work spaces, sanitation, protective gear and health monitoring procedures for employees as well as modified customer service/shipping protocol.
  • Looking ahead at what we will need to do to ramp but up to new operational reality.
  • Added social distancing procedures for staff. increased cleaning of all public surfaces.
  • We have been operating as usual. We offer direct parts shipping to dealer customers from our ware houses at no up-charge. We offered to defer finance payments on existing contracts if needed and on new finance contracts we offer no payments for 6 months. All employees have been issued a supply of non surgical masks for when travel is allowed
  • New markets, ppe, different supply chains,
  • New safety protocols including sanitizing and questionnaires to ensure clients, sellers, buyers, agents are all free of symptoms and high risk indicators such as travelling internationally within 14 days or exposure to a covid infected individual.

On a positive note: Have you experienced any “gifts” during this slowed down period?i.e. extra time to think about your business, planing or catching up on business tasks, projects, re-evaluating life, extra time for family etc. or anything else you can tell us.

  • Only the spare time from lack of incoming business which forces us to re-allocate labor to other projects.
  • Improved on line communication skills. Discovered some of the benefits of working from home. Clarity on types of communication that are relevant and effective.
  • My equipment sales business is doing well.
  • We've been catching up on back office work which has helped but the drawbacks of lowered sales have been a huge hindrance.
  • No
  • Catch Up
  • All of the above.
  • No
  • I've spent some good quality time with my family, however If things don't turn around next year, I might be calling it quits.
  • I have had more time with my kids due to school closures, so less time for work, but it had been a pleasure! I am embracing my time with them at home. During work hours, i am focused on planning for the upcoming season and improving systems for more efficient operations.
  • No, as we are also building new home/offices.
  • Take this time to upgrade or plan for future projects and will do better when situation gets better!
  • Opportunities to support the community and our customers in various charity related en-devours such as hand sanitizers and give backs to front line employees.
  • Yes, this pandemic forced us to re-evaluate our business processes and how we needed to re-adjust our business model so that we could "weather the storm" during this turbulent time...
  • I get to walk my dog every afternoon instead of rush it in after work. We have a nice time.
  • No.
  • We have actually worked longer hours as our business has changed so much that we need to adapt to new ways which means more protocols in place. Things take much longer than before
  • Our corporate leadership team has been extraordinarily accessible and communicative with exceptional response and support to our staff, our customers and to our communities. They have supported our people with no-layoffs, helped set up home office support, provided guidance, allowed time off with pay, helped people quarantine to protect their families and extended access to professionals with medical and mental health focus.
  • Extra time to adjust website, clean up shop, and spend time with family.
  • We are still working. our family is healthy. we are lucky
  • Got the government $40K loan with $30K repayable ... that is nice.
  • No
  • Extra time with family
  • More time with family, growth as a company, new business relationships established
  • No it is more work at less pay
  • Yes, more time to drink wine! We are renovating again. We are recommending to all clients to use this time to reevaluate your marketing strategies and update your websites - we are following our own advice!
  • More time with family and increased sense of community (more chats with neighbours in the street) and lots of project getting completed.
  • Will think on this lol.
  • Tme to work on marketing of the business
  • Definitely work life balance as am not commuting and saw my team demonstrate their ability to rise to the occasion and pull together to make things work.
  • Has been regular work days, work load has not changed so far.
  • No
  • We have enjoyed more "face time" with our dealers and co workers. This was instead of phone calls. Enjoyed the flexible hours. But ready to hit the road again and visit our dealers customers
  • No.
  • Extra family time, less commuting, more time to think and and plan for the future.
  • It has been interesting to note how much of the work can be done remotely.

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PreSpring Issue 2024