COVID - How did your suppliers ‘Measure Up’?

From a business perspective, one of the things I have found fascinating about the COVID period is how our suppliers and business partners have responded in this time of adversity. I have long believed that you observe the most about people and their companies in times of adversity, and this theory has proven itself again to me over the past few months.

At the start of April, I told my leadership team that whilst the economic impacts caused by COVID 19 were ominous (and in many respects still are), that some people and businesses will come out of this period bigger and stronger and others not so much. I stand by this now more than ever after the events of the past few months, which in my opinion has highlighted the best (and worst) in people and business behaviours.

Firstly, I want to thank every single supplier we have at True Blue Chemicals, without exception you have all been amazing during these extremely difficult times. We are fortunate to be an Australian owned and operated manufacturer and we place a huge value on having meaningful and honest relationships - and all of you helped navigate some challenging times with very limited supply chain interruptions – thank you!

At the end of March we made three key decisions at True Blue that helped us get through the first wave of COVID with our business intact, and our heads held high. Here is what we decided to do as things started to go a little crazy back in late March and April. 

Decision 1: We will prioritise supply to our long term loyal customers.

In reality we could have sold thousands of litres of product at inflated price on a COD basis to anyone that came through the door (and there were plenty)! But we made a conscious decision to focus on supplying the loyal customers that helped us grow and develop over the past 30+ years, and this was also a decision mirrored by many of our Distributor partners.

Decision 2: We will provide regular, open, and honest communication to our customers

As a leadership team we were meeting daily to ensure we stayed on top of things as best we could, and every week sent our customers updates on their orders and how we were placed to service their needs. Some days Jenny (our COO) didn’t want to push send on those emails as they didn’t always contain good news – but we sent them anyway, as I believe people need honest truth, even if it wasn’t what they wanted to hear.

Decision 3: We will not use COVID as an excuse for profiteering

This is one I was very strong about with the team as I did not want anyone to look back at us post COVID, and remember us as the supplier who used COVID as a reason for major price increases. Yes we incurred some additional costs and some had to be passed on (air freight costs for example), but we kept our pricing the same for 99% of our products and did not use the crisis as justification for increasing our margin.

None of us know what the next few months will hold in business, but I do know that I want to continue being surrounded by supplier’s and partners with integrity and trust, especially in times of great need.

As a good friend and advisor of mine says ‘You can do business with anyone, but only do serious business with people you would invite into your own home’……

 So my question to you is …

How did your suppliers measure up during COVID?

If you feel you deserve more as a customer from your cleaning chemical or hand hygiene supplier, please pick up the phone and talk to me or one of my amazing team, as we would love the opportunity to show you how we can assist!

(Above all else, stay safe and well and look after one another)

Sincerely, Brad

Partners, Performance People

www.truebluechemicals.com.au

P: 1800 635 746