First the travel ban , then lowering the number of mass in a assemblage even further . These governmental decisions touch Australian importer and exporter Wafex severely . Sales dropped , resulting in a simplification of the exercise hour for the majority of the staff . Wafex took the opportunity that was confront by accessibility of some hours for stave to start to look at its patronage and how it could be be given up , rationalized and line up with the current market conditions but with an eye on the future and how Wafex require to look when we emerge into a Modern normal . Now , consistent orders are again coming in and they have salutary hopes for the key Waxflower exportation season as it is still a few months away . We had a talk with owner Craig Musson , explain the situation and how they are dealing with it .
Upcoming Waxflower harvest . " They are looking beautiful . "
trip banAccording to Musson , it started mid - March when the Prime Minister issued a travel forbiddance on Australian residents and advised all residents living outside Australia to retrovert home . " The clientele was severely impact as Wafex trust on passenger flights for both its signification and exportation business in Australia , Ecuador and Kenya . We at once saw passenger flight begin to dwindle led by our interior carrier strand its fleet within a week of the announcement . Over the next 2 - 3 week passenger flights issue forth in and out of Australia came to a standstill . This was further compound by the financial suffering of Virgin , our domesticated freightage carrier , who also grounded its fleet in early April , leaving us with limited domesticated freight handiness . "
Lowering number of people in gatheringsThen , the next negative annunciation occurred : the Prime Minister declare that the previous ruling of a maximum of 50 masses in a gather was now fix to 10 people . " This saw the cancelling of 90 % of the design wedding . Florists cancelled their orders overnight , leave wholesalers and importer carrying monolithic amounts of stock with nowhere to deal it , resulting in massive shrinkage . "
Some of the Wafex staff using the downtime to tight - track the farm planting
Using the time to rationalise the businessAs in many land , the government advises people to work from home , so also at Wafex their sale , procurement , giving medication and accounting staff are now working from dwelling house . And according to Musson , with having a new package arrangement , it was all quite challenging . " Fortunately , we have excellent software and ironware capability and this combined with the quieter trading period has allow for a comparatively smooth transition into our new ERP system . "
But as there are fewer sale , there is less work to do . " Sadly we have had to bring down the working hour of the bulk of our staff , however the governance wage subsidy has meant we can carry all our staff with no one being stood down . "
They have impart forward a number of substantial projects which were in the word of mouth to be completed in the next 12 months to better use some of the downtime and skill fructify they have . " We have also fast - tracked plant - outs on our farm again to use uncommitted faculty . We are using the opportunity to apologize the business so that when we come out the patronage is thin and bastardly . "
Promoting flowersBesides persist in their own stage business , they have also spent a set of sentence promoting the flower industry as crucial to the emotional and mental health of the nation . They made the following video :
novel normalWhile sales are at a lower level , they are , according to Musson , now in a stage of a “ new normal ” with reproducible orders coming in . " Online business concern are going very well and there is strong requirement for locally grow native flush , which is a gist strength of Wafex . We are starting to see freighter flights fill the void leave by the earthing of rider flight of stairs . "
salutary hopes for Waxflower seasonMusson has good hope for their Waxflower season . " We are fortunate that we are still a few month away from our key Waxflower exportation season and we hope by then there will be a more comprehensive merchant ship connection . "
" continue good , look after your family line , wash your hands ! " , he concludes .
For more information : Wafexwww.wafex.com.au
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
