OPERATIONS: GARY RICHIED – Page 6
It is getting more and more difficult to conceal my disappointment and frustration with our business as this year goes on. While I am glad that we are able to continue working and providing for the needs of our customers, and in turn our own families, it is the spottiness of orders coming in and the uncertainty of the moving season ahead that is concerning to me.
With revenues 30% down in April and what looks to be 50% in May we are headed in the wrong direction. It would be easy to sit back and accept this trend as we explain away all the reasons for it. We have very solid excuses for why we cannot produce the volume of business with the corresponding revenues that we did last year but that’s not how we work. The success that we have enjoyed in the past is because we overcame all the difficulties, found solutions to problems that stood in our way, and managed to keep growing.
The obstacles that we face now, although greater and less in our control, should be addressed with the same vigor and tenacity that we have always exhibited. As an essential business we have the opportunity to find solutions instead of offering up excuses. It is still largely in our hands to turn these challenges around and reverse this trend of increasing deficits.
Although the expectations going forward into June are not to exceed or even meet last year’s volumes, we can do well by ourselves to stem the tide by cutting the rate of May’s decline in half. This would be a large step in the right direction heading into the third quarter of the year. Through the successful conversion of sales leads, the increased capacity of our local moving force, the all-out involvement of our interstate fleet, and the steady contributions from DataBank and Store Your Things we can gear up instead of winding down. It’s really up to us.
The quote of the month is from Abraham Lincoln who pointed out this very fact when he said “Always remember that you own resolution to succeed is more important than anything else”.
Please pray with me to the Holy Spirit, whose presence we celebrated on Pentecost, to come to our aid and assist us in staying safe, remaining healthy, and being successful.
Peace and Prayers
Gary