There are many factors that continue to challenge our businesses as we move forward into this new year. None are more important than the safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers and partners, especially as the global pandemic remains present. We are also navigating our way through product supply changes brought on by both Brexit and increased input costs. We are continually asked how we, as your supplier are mitigating our way through the pandemic and Brexit, therefore I have created this document so that you are fully informed of our progress on these important issues.
Coronavirus
Now a month into our third coronavirus lockdown in England, we continue to ensure that the health and safety of our customers and staff is paramount as we operate on a business as usual basis with an 'essential service provider' status. We continue to socially distance and stagger our shift patterns ensuring the safety of our warehouse staff. Office staff are still working from home where possible and those that are in the office remain spread out. Your account managers are still contactable and remain available to answer any query you may have and hope to be able to visit you again soon.
Our range of protective solutions are helping businesses to safeguard their customers and staff, including the recent launch of Coala Coversafe™, a revolutionary self-adhesive film that protects furniture, door handles and various other surfaces from viruses. It is the only film of its kind that is certified against COVID-19 for enhanced safety in public areas, workplaces and educational facilities. Along with our range of Panodyne COVID-19 test kits
Brexit
Over the past two years, we have been working behind the scenes with our suppliers preparing for Brexit-day, and now the deal is done, we can continue to buy European goods without tariffs, which is a relief we share with all businesses.
That said, it isn’t quite as easy as it was pre-Brexit. The UK has left the EU’s Single Market and the Customs Union so for trade to continue, border checks and customs declarations are now required. This is no surprise and we have been working closely with our suppliers over the past year to agree the most effective travel routes to deliver products to our customers, making sure our processes comply.
There have been much reported delays at UK/EU borders our suppliers have been upgrading their warehousing capability and increased their stock inventory to protect orders over these next few months. Ports are having to adjust to social distancing, cleaning and the new documentation requirements that together may mean vessels take longer to unload, impacting the haulier’s ability to collect cargo from quay.
Whilst there are significant changes to the process for moving goods, these activities take place ‘behind the scenes’ between DEOS, our suppliers and the Revenue & Customs authorities. We will endeavour to ensure these process changes run smoothly and that your products are delivered as usual.
Market outlook and input costs
Partnering with the UK’s largest Business Supplies Wholesaler, continue to leverage our purchasing power as much as possible, to secure the best possible prices. Nonetheless, it is possible that we will be forced to take significant cost increases as a result of Brexit, that are wholly beyond our control and that we cannot avoid or absorb, these may result in price increases having to be applied with short notice. Additionally, despite reduced market demand for paper and visual communications products driven by the current lockdown situation, our suppliers continue to push for price increases due to higher input costs. We are unfortunately also facing supplier increases on some of our packaging products too.
The markets in which we operate are uncertain, with many changing dynamics as summarised in the attached infographic. We will continue to negotiate, and deflect, any price increases where possible, and only look to pass on substantiated increases to the market where unavoidable.
Should these anticipated price increases materialise, we will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible. |