Page 4 - LBMAO - May-Jun 2020 REPORTER - web optimized

Message from the CHAIR
Message from the PRESIDENT Message from the PRESIDENT

WOW!
our industry remains strong our industry remains strong

(STANDS FOR 'WORN OUT FROM WORKING')

RON SCHELL
david campbell his edition of the Reporter magazine focuses The rent relief program has not been helpful as david campbell his edition of the Reporter magazine focuses The rent relief program has not been helpful as
hat an unusual few months this has as quickly as possible, to keep customers
Wbeen. The first few weeks, we would flowing. Thank heavens I have four separate
LBMAO President Tprimarily on the impact of the COVID-19 most landlords do not wish to pay the 25% cost, LBMAO President Tprimarily on the impact of the COVID-19 most landlords do not wish to pay the 25% cost,
Schell Home Hardware
let five customers into the store. Line ups buildings and can get more people served. I
Building Centre, Pandemic on our members, as well as on the understanding their costs need to be covered as well. Pandemic on our members, as well as on the understanding their costs need to be covered as well.
Association itself.
Obtaining PPE equipment at a reasonable cost has
Association itself.
Obtaining PPE equipment at a reasonable cost has
continued throughout the days. There were almost forgot that previously we were only
Stouffville, ON Having interviewed several of our retail and been a sore issue and there is a noticeable indication Having interviewed several of our retail and been a sore issue and there is a noticeable indication
sales of paint and stain, eavestrough stuff, allowing one customer in the store; and at
supplier members, I have come to the conclusion of price gouging and mismanagement of the supply supplier members, I have come to the conclusion of price gouging and mismanagement of the supply
electrical, plumbing and other. People were the yard, we brought customers material
that, for the most part, our sector has not had the chain by government in this important category. that, for the most part, our sector has not had the chain by government in this important category.
at home with nothing to do...
to the front gate for them. That was chaos.
severe decline on sales and cash flows as other There has been a major increase in online ordering severe decline on sales and cash flows as other There has been a major increase in online ordering
Then we changed to one person only to Customers’ vehicles were lined up on Schell
sectors, such as clothing and footwear. As well, those for those members offering this service and this will sectors, such as clothing and footwear. As well, those for those members offering this service and this will
the front desk for payments. No wandering Street along with tractor trailers from
social and sports sectors such as minor hockey, soccer probably continue. social and sports sectors such as minor hockey, soccer probably continue.
through the store. We ran and got suppliers. Everyone was patient; it showed
and other sporting endeavors have been devastated The virtual trade shows being introduced by our and other sporting endeavors have been devastated The virtual trade shows being introduced by our
all the products. Thank heavens us how great our customers, suppliers and, of
with chances of getting back to any type of normalcy buying group members will have an impact on how with chances of getting back to any type of normalcy buying group members will have an impact on how
"I am sure it will all for the kids being out of school course, our employees really are. over the summer being very doubtful. Hundreds of future networking, buying and learning is conducted
future networking, buying and learning is conducted
over the summer being very doubtful. Hundreds of
The problem now is that our suppliers
because we couldn’t have done it
resolve itself. We thousands of people in these groups by moving away from a face to face platform. thousands of people in these groups by moving away from a face to face platform.
"There has been a are experiencing a long period of lay Most of our members are weathering the situation "There has been a are experiencing a long period of lay Most of our members are weathering the situation
without them. I worked the front are running out of certain items. Their
will return to some desk as I made all the codes which manufacturers have either been closed or
major increase in off and will need support from the with some challenges on revenues, dependent on major increase in off and will need support from the with some challenges on revenues, dependent on
their location. Traditionally at this time of year, the
government to provide the basics in
government to provide the basics in
their location. Traditionally at this time of year, the
made me the quickest, maybe not demand may have exceeded supply, but I am
normality but it
online ordering for life. So, from that respect we should LBMAO would be hosting several events, such as online ordering for life. So, from that respect we should LBMAO would be hosting several events, such as
always right, but fast - and the sure it will all resolve itself. We will return
won't be the same, feel lucky we work in this industry. golf tournaments and the “Cool Car Ride” but, with those members feel lucky we work in this industry. golf tournaments and the “Cool Car Ride” but, with
those members
kids just ran. We closed Saturdays to some normality but it won’t be the same,
To summarize the interviews, it
the pandemic in full swing, this has had a negative
To summarize the interviews, it
the pandemic in full swing, this has had a negative
and opened Monday to Friday from that’s for sure!
that's for sure!" is interesting to note some of the impact on the Association cash flow. We have taken offering this is interesting to note some of the impact on the Association cash flow. We have taken
offering this
I am sure there will be lots of discussions
eight until three. This way we had
common threads experienced by advantage of the programs offered by the federal common threads experienced by advantage of the programs offered by the federal
all the sales staff on one shift with government and businesses; and, of
service and this will the owners and managers of these government on wage subsidies and loan programs. service and this will the owners and managers of these government on wage subsidies and loan programs.
only, not split shifts like normal. It course, the LBMAO will be right in the middle
probably continue." businesses: This should help us move through the summer probably continue." businesses: This should help us move through the summer
months and into our membership renewal period.
Most all agreed that response
condensed sales but it worked and by three of this. Once we have the ability, we will get Most all agreed that response months and into our membership renewal period.
from both federal and provincial
together with our ideas. We welcome any and
o’clock we were all beat. We have seen an increase in member usage of from both federal and provincial We have seen an increase in member usage of
governments in addressing the financial and social our online training programs, with the new “Driver governments in addressing the financial and social our online training programs, with the new “Driver
Now we are back to regular hours and all suggestions.
needs of the citizens of this province was good with a Training Modules” being used by several of our needs of the citizens of this province was good with a Training Modules” being used by several of our
letting five customers in the store at a
few areas of suggested improvement. member businesses with very positive comments few areas of suggested improvement. member businesses with very positive comments
time. If people come in a group of two or
It was generally felt that the provincial on the outcome of this important training support It was generally felt that the provincial on the outcome of this important training support
more, only one person per group is allowed
government did not necessarily need to close service. government did not necessarily need to close service.
in. No talking on phones while in the store
down all construction and instead should have There is no question that once this pandemic is down all construction and instead should have There is no question that once this pandemic is
so we can try and get customers in and out
implemented a very stringent health and safety policy over we will all conduct our lives, both personally and implemented a very stringent health and safety policy over we will all conduct our lives, both personally and
if they stayed open; as well, a more regional approach professionally, in a much different manner - hopefully if they stayed open; as well, a more regional approach professionally, in a much different manner - hopefully
could have been taken. for the good. could have been taken. for the good.
Building permits should have been issued We wish all of our members every success in Building permits should have been issued We wish all of our members every success in
throughout the pandemic period as they usually take getting through this unprecedented time for our throughout the pandemic period as they usually take getting through this unprecedented time for our
several months to see them implemented. business and our families. several months to see them implemented. business and our families.
Extension of the wage subsidy will have to be Extension of the wage subsidy will have to be
addressed as the recovery period will extend into the addressed as the recovery period will extend into the
fall. fall.
4 LBMAO Reporter - May-June 2020 Reporter - May-June 2020
6 LBMAO www www.lbmao.on.ca.lbmao.on.ca 6 LBMAO Reporter - May-June 2020 www.lbmao.on.ca