Page 21 - LBMAO - May-Jun 2020 REPORTER - web optimized

products and services at the big could to help employees obtain the
box stores, migrated to the more government programs; as well as
regional smaller home improvement providing food gift cards and other
retailers of whom Kwik Mix supply. online social programs to help them
She also notes that they did not manage the stresses of working
require most of the assistance through the pandemic. They also
programs offered by the federal host video conferencing every week
government as they did not need with all employees to keep them
them; however, costs of managing informed on how the company is
the safety requirements to ensure a managing through these trying
safe workplace did go up. times.
Anticipating a sales slowdown When asked about the support
in mid-March, Kwik Mix did lay from the provincial and federal
off a few employees but within a governments, Michelle expressed
couple of weeks re-hired them. The her concern quite candidly
biggest challenge is helping office that support for medium sized
and warehouse staff to manage businesses has been limited
their home life issues such as compared to programs for small
childcare. As well, implementing and larger enterprises. She hopes
a comprehensive safety policy that the response will start to
to ensure they meet all the focus on helping their size of
requirements of social distancing business through the crisis. With
has been a real challenge. It has 75-80 employees they have been
been very difficult to obtain PPE challenged in sourcing adequate PPE
equipment such as the N-95 mask equipment and, when obtained, the
which they are required to wear cost is exorbitant.
when handling silica sand as part of This company prides itself on
the manufacturing process. exceptional customer service in
Gibson Building Supplies with 7 supplying the contractor/retail trade
locations in the GTA, Central Ontario and will be introducing a brand-new
and SW Ontario can attest to the website June 15th to better tell their
regional affect the pandemic has message.
had on their business. It is difficult Commodity distribution has
to react to the inconsistency of always been challenging to maintain
customer traffic into the business. profitability dependent on when and
Some days they cannot keep up how much to buy as prices fluctuate,
to the demand and other days just like the stock market. George
the traffic is very low. Michelle McCart, Director of Marketing at
Chouinard-Kenney, CEO of this AFA Forest Products Inc. comments
roofing supply business, comes that supply of product such as white
from a family background in roofing wood is the issue today and the
applicators and has taken over summer months will be affected by
the reigns of this contractor/retail the slow release of building permits.
supplier. Since the start of the pandemic,
Michelle tells us that overall the AFA in Bolton and its branches in
business is soft but has not seen Sudbury and London have been
significant drops in sales as many open as they are designated as
of their contractors who work at the essential services.
new housing level were still doing Office staff are practicing safe
projects with permits issued prior to distancing with plexiglass barriers
the shut down of the construction between desks that are at least 6
sites. Her concern is that with feet apart. Mask are worn by staff
many municipal offices still being in the warehouse and yard to better
closed the back log of permits protect workers and drivers. AFA’s
coming into the summer will create outside sales team are working
a real difficult time to initiate from home offices and, now that
new projects. As well, banks are retail is open again, do their sales
cautious on mortgage lending with calls by email, phone or conference
the level of consumer debt being calls, only visiting the stores by
accumulated. appointment at their request. This
Although they experienced a will remain the norm for the near
few lay-offs with their inside sales future.
people, Gibson did everything they Sales are strong and, with no lay-

This page from top: Michelle Chouinard-Kenney, CEO Gibson Building Supply;
Maintaining physical distance at AFA Forest Products Inc.; Randy Aikens,
President, Soo Mill
www.lbmao.on.ca LBMAO Reporter - May-June 2020 21