You know, the supply situation is actually better than we thought. Demand continues to be crazy, but we have shipped significantly more goods this year than last year, and even our inventory is higher than it was this time last year. After all, it's no secret that (on average) we have the highest inventory in our industry.
When it comes to prices, our industry has mostly known downward movement. Suddenly prices are increasing for many vendors. So what? Well, we make more turnover and the absolute margin goes up. Even vendors who (despite massively increased freight costs) are somehow still increasing their gross margin (according to the stock market report), are increasing their prices.
We can now discuss whether sustainability should, or even must, be a corporate goal. Or whether a company simply needs to make money for its shareholders, no matter what resources get lost along the way.
For months now, Jarltech has been busy »pumping up« its inventory. Unfortunately, this effort is grinding to a halt. On the one hand, we are experiencing incredible growth, selling and shipping more than ever before. But on the other hand, the flow of shipments from our vendors is drying up. Very, very slowly, almost unnoticeable, but it's happening.
Naturally, the corona crisis has negatively impacted many industries through no fault of their own. But is everything only bad? When I turn on the TV, all I see is massive company bankruptcies and whining from all sides.
Boy, it would be refreshing to hear some good news - at least every now and then!
Currently, construction work on our Jarltech Event & Training Centre is in full swing. An eight-meter-long timeline is being installed in the entrance, which shows Jarltechs development. Just over 30 years of history, and we have dug up quite a few pictures from earlier times. Some of the things we were particularly proud of back then seem rather funny today. :)