Updated March 28, 2020
Essential and happy about it
For One Two Tree in Miami, Fla., the business has been designated an essential business and for that, Dusty Montiel, general manager, says he’s happy.
“We have been lucky due to the fact that we work outside and for the county (that) we have been deemed an essential business,” he says. “We have most of our outside staff operating.”
Indoors, though, One Two Tree has made a few modifications.
“We have made some changes to our office personnel and are rotating days for them to come in to minimize contact with one another,” he says.
Other adjustments are similar to what other operations are doing such as disinfecting high-use and contact areas. Another change is to adjust the times that field personnel come into the office.
“We don’t have large amount of people at the yard/shop at the same time,” he says. “That helps as well to minimize contact with one another.”
Syngenta responds to COVID-19
In an announcement to customers and business partners, Syngenta says the company is assessing the situation daily and is taking action to maintain business continuity while focusing on keeping its customers and business partners safe.
“Syngenta’s priority is the health and safety of our employees, families, customers and partners,” the company said in the statement.
As part of the company’s efforts, it will maintain the supply chain, increase distribution capacity and continue R&D efforts. Employees who can work remotely are working remotely. Additional safety protocols have been implemented for those operations that cannot be performed remotely.
The company also encourages customers to place orders early, “recognizing current strong demand.”
Updated March 27, 2020
Gempler’s president talks supply chain in the pandemic
Wisconsin-based Gempler’s has been serving outdoor industries since 1939. The company focuses on quality hand-picked products, from shoes and socks to aerators and shovels.
Carl Atwell has owned the company for just 15 months and suddenly finds himself in a unique position in unique times. With the country locked in the grips of the Coronavirus pandemic, he and his 50 employees are adjusting to how to deal with the fluctuating needs of his customers.
“I think like everybody, you have to process things day by day. You have to respond and react. We’re meeting as a leadership team every day,” Atwell says. “We’re saying OK, based on what’s happening nationally, or what the president said, or what the governor said … based on XYZ, how should we be handling X, how should we be handling Y? We’re meeting and making decisions based on that moment.”
Lately, the company’s supply of safety equipment has taken center stage. The nature of the business at Gempler’s has given Atwell and his team an interesting insight on the demand for certain products. It was the third week in January, on a Saturday, when the company was inundated with orders for respirators. The next category to spike was Tyvek suits, gloves and booties. Most recently, the product in high demand is hand sanitizers.
The manufacturers are reacting according to a preset plan, Atwell says.
“Companies like 3M, DuPont and Honeywell, they’re seeing this demand, and they’re stepping back to figure out first how to allocate the inventory they already have,” Atwell says. “That changes day-to-day. If they meet with Vice President Pence — and they have — they have a priority of order. It goes government/safety/health care, then loyal customers. Who are their core customers? Customers who are loyal and not trying to take advantage of a situation.”
Atwell says the process is similar at Gempler’s, prioritizing the safety needs required by the government, followed by longtime customers. The company announced recently that it’s not accepting orders for disposable respirators for the time being. Atwell points out that when the company did have respirators available, it never changed the price of them, and he was disappointed that others inflated their prices.
“We’re trying to do like our mothers and our grandmothers taught us — do the right thing. And the right thing is helping people.”
The company has remained open for business, while allowing anyone who can work from home to do so. Atwell says it’s “all hands on deck,” and that means he’s personally doing whatever it takes to keep things moving, — from packing orders to loading trucks. It was while he was in the warehouse that he saw how important it was to one of his employees that the company remains open.
“An employee wanted to talk to me, he said, ‘Tell me we’re going to stay open.’ I said, ‘why?’” Atwell says. “He said, ‘Because we service the customer, and our customer is the small business owner. Those people need these things.’”
Updated March 25, 2020
Arbor-Nomics Turf tries to adopt positive outlook
Despite crews experiencing delays due to the coronavirus pandemic and rain washouts, Richard Bare, CEO at Arbor-Nomics Turf in Norcross, Ga., has tried to adopt an optimistic outlook.
“On the positive side, we don’t mind working evenings and weekends because we are in an essential industry,” he says. “So, we aren’t having to stay at home during this crisis waiting for our government check to pay our mounting bills … Someone has to keep our economic engine going so these unfortunate industries can come back again.”
In the meantime, Arbor-Nomics Turf is training its people to stay apart from one another by at least 6 feet, use the hand sanitizers installed around their offices, to stay home if they feel ill (they will still continue to get paid) and to follow any other presidential or governor recommendations.
“Everyone is still coming into the branches every day. We can move their computers to their homes if that becomes necessary, but we are hearing that home networks are failing due to their small size,” Bare says. “We are running our guys in shifts to avoid exceeding the 10-person limit in the fill areas, we also went to weekly video training to limit the spread of germs in the branches.”
While Arbor-Nomics has embraced a positive outlook for the time being, the company maintains a realistic attitude in that it has curtailed shopping for new trucks and other large capital expenditures because of the present uncertainty.
“I agree with President Trump that the financial crisis could be worse than the COVID-19. We are a country that operates on cash flow, not government handouts,” Bare says. “This disease could mutate and sweep through the world again. This could be like 9/11; it could be a permanent change in our world that we are going to have to adapt to the rest of our lives.”
Berwyn Lawnmower takes action
Berwyn Lawnmower, a commercial and residential equipment dealer in Berwyn, Pa., is not taking the coronavirus pandemic lightly.
“Considering we’ve just entered our busy season, this could be disastrous for a small business and impact the landscapers and homeowners that rely on us this time of year,” says owner Kevin Ercole.
All employees are asked to wear latex gloves at all times during business hours, and mechanics are encouraged to wipe down their tools and tool bins prior to closing each day.
“We have also asked for them to stay in their own work areas and give each other ample space,” he says. “Any employees assisting customers are asked to wipe down any surfaces the customer may have been in contact with. If a customer signs a receipt, he or she may keep the pen.”
The company has also stocked up on Lysol, Clorox Wipes, 409, latex gloves and hand sanitizer. Keyboards, computer mice, countertops, doorknobs and bathrooms are to be cleaned throughout the day using those products. Employees wipe down customers’ equipment (blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, etc) and pressure wash larger pieces of equipment with Simple Green cleaner after being worked on.
The cleaning precautions started roughly three weeks ago and have kept up ever since.
“Everyone is just a little more mindful now and washes their hands much more frequently,” Ercole says. “As things have worsened in Pennsylvania, only one to three customers are permitted to enter the showroom at once. This has been received well, and everyone is being patient and waiting until it’s their turn. During warmer days, the entrance doors are opened to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the building.”
All employees have been briefed on the situation and are aware of what’s going on locally and nationally.
“They understand if the state of Pennsylvania asks us to shut down, then we must follow the rules until it is safe to resume normal business activities,” Ercole says. “While they are concerned, they haven’t let it get them down. Everyone is still showing up on time and working to their standards. By no way are any of our employees getting laid off. We will continue to support them financially until this pandemic is under control.”
The company has already seen a drop in walk-in business just this week, while phone and email inquiries are up.
“As the shutdowns continue, businesses like ours will continue to grow quieter as no one wants to come out and look at or purchase new equipment,” he says. “It’s unfortunate that this pandemic is hitting just as the spring season kicks into gear — this is the time where most dealers profit the most (sales and service work).
Updated March 24, 2020
Ewing President and CEO Douglas York sent a message to Ewing’s clients surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic:
We understand the growing concern surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) across our communities, and our hearts go out to all those who’ve been impacted. When it comes to our customers, employees and families, health and safety is our No. 1 priority.
Ewing has taken significant steps to assure that services to you continue uninterrupted while working to safeguard the health of our employees and customers during the COVID-19 situation.
Cleanliness and Hygiene:
We are dedicated to being your partner and supporting your ongoing business. Part of that dedication means maintaining a safe and clean environment. Every day, as part of our regular operations, our stores are cleaned and sanitized.
Recently, we’ve increased the frequency of cleanings, especially to frequently visited areas like the sales counter, restrooms and coffee and water stations, as well as offices, bullpens and vehicle interiors.
We have instructed our teams to send home anyone who is not feeling well or has family members who aren’t feeling well. We have policies in place to support our employees during illness and family emergencies.
Limiting Potential Exposure:
While our stores continue to remain open, staffed and stocked, we understand that you may want to limit exposure risk. As always, our team is ready to take your orders via phone or website and make deliveries to your job sites.
Additionally, Ewing has canceled all events, including branch events, education classes and internal training classes. This is to maximize social distancing and reduce large crowds. For our employees, we have banned all nonessential, work-related travel.
Continue to Serve:
While limiting risk, we are not limiting our service level to you. We will continue be a partner in your business needs. We are actively working on managing our supply chain and inventory levels.
Recently, we enhanced Ewing’s website, improving speed and searchability. Our website is ready to serve your needs, from ordering products to managing your account.
Remaining Vigilant:
This situation continues to evolve quickly, and we will be monitoring it closely. We will continue to refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and other public health agencies to determine the safest course of action for everyone who enters our stores.
As a family-owned company, we are committed to providing the utmost care for you and your family. Thank you for your trust and loyalty. Our team will do its best during these challenging times to continue to earn it.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. York
President & CEO
