Arc Euro and Coronavirus

I got this update from Arc today:

In the last few weeks, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down, leaving the future uncertain and frightening.

We have therefore arrived at the sad decision to close our web store as of Tuesday 31st of March by midday.

The health and safety of the ARC team is of highest importance to us, and to continue working at this time is not a risk we want to take.

We can't wait to welcome you back on the other side.

Until then, be safe and take care.

Team ARC Euro Trade.

Well I hope they & other companies can survive this era in History.

Steve.

My sons closed our business down on Friday, they think we can survive around 20 weeks. Biggest worry is how many of our self employed and small business customers will be still trading when we return. How many more of the suppliers for our hobby will have to follow ARC's decision over the next few weeks?

This whole miserable time is going to cascade for so many years. With companies going under & of course new enterprise starting up. It has happened a few times before has it not. Recessions etc.

Steve.

Sad but understandable.

Lets hope that all our suppliers can survive this terrible time. They d eserve to!

Howard

Sad times but understandable; but when you think about it where do all/most of their supplies come from... China !!

George.

i wonder if this episode of our life will wake us up to over reliance on imported manufactures goods. Maybe we will realise that financial services are not the only important part of the economy. Exporting is of course important to most economies so one countries export is somebody else's import and vice versa but we need a better balance.

Bill D.

Are they sending out orders recieved before they shut down?

I find this a little surprising to be honest but it does of course depend on individual circumstances. I’m still ordering and receiving items from companies that provide that in no way can be called essential products. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to risk employing the normal number of staff but surely some of these small companies can carry on with limited staff? if I was an owner of a small company I’d at least try to ship out orders on my own rather than give up.

I have no doubt that my reply will invoke the usual suspects ranting about "Elfin Safety" however.

Every business has a duty of care to all its employees, Part of the duty of care is the production of a risk assessment which considers how "an event" may impact either directly or indirectly on an employee or employer. I work for a company manufacturing large special purpose vehicles and on the face of it one would think we would be able to carry on as business as usual, but it isn't that simple.

Consider the basic advice offered by the Government and Medical advisers:-

1) Maintain 2m separation at all times.

2) Provide means of hand washing and sanitising.

3) Only continue to work if it is essential.

In the environment I work, the 2m separation cannot be maintained at all times - we have doors with no visibility panels - two persons could meet. Large components need two or more to handle, tools are used by more than one person, items need to be collected and delivered from stores, first aid needs to be provided, Washrooms would need rearranging, we would need to be sanitising constantly.

Is our work essential - in terms of the shareholders yes - in terms of the end users yes - but essential enough to put persons at risk? No.

Now although I have used ARC on numerous occasions and I must admit that I have never actually visited Ketan's premises, I have the greatest respect for him. Is model engineering equipment "essential" hardly. Will he be able to satisfy a realistic risk assessment? Hardly.

In the end, why expose himself or his staff to any potential risk?

I will now get my tin hat on, ready for a verbal onslaught!

Stay safe.

Grum

In the coming days, I expect more companies to close. Very big companies consider themselves to be "essential", as Grum says, this is more about profits and their place in a market.

As this situation continues, I question my company's stance on staying open, we have lost 25% of our workforce, so far.

Jim

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In the end, why expose himself or his staff to any potential risk?

I will now get my tin hat on, ready for a verbal onslaught!

Stay safe.

Grum

You are absolutely right. Imagine staying open & a few of your employees passing away. You would never forgive yourself. There may be other attributions as well. Like ARC a lot rely on Asian imports. If these are only coming in dribs & drabs. You can not satisfy your customers. It's a loose, loose.

Steve.

Absolutely right. Commercial recovery can occur after damaging interruption, but it's Game Over for anybody croaking from the virus.

I understand Ketan's decision is for the benefit of his employees.

Neil

Yes, ARC will continue to process and dispatch all orders received before the site is shut down, to the best of our ability.

There may be a small handful of orders we may find difficult to execute for some reason, which we will come to know at time of execution. Those customers will be contacted, provided the reason, and such payment authorisations will be cancelled.

I have monitored the developments in China, carrying out pro-active discussions with our main suppliers since around the 20th of January this year, to date. I have watched, listened and learned from them. I have also consulted them on this subject, debated the various points mentioned above with myself, discussed this with my team, and came to the decision to close on Tuesday 31st March by midday. This will allow us enough time to deal with orders and all the issues involved with the closing procedure.

Ketan at ARC

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I endorse that sentiment heartily!

Exemplary, as ever, Ketan

I’m sure you will have customers ready and waiting to buy from ARC when normality returns.

MichaelG.