Dear Customers and Distributors,
2021 has been another tough year for most businesses around the world. Raw material, energy, and carriage cost increases coupled with delivery driver shortages have made it exceptionally challenging for most companies including, Spraylat.
I am old enough to remember the Winter of Discontent in the UK during late 1970s. Boney M and Gloria Gaynor dominated the airways and Superman was the big Christmas movie, but a series of strikes, shortages (not least oil), drove up prices and inflation with it. There was a change of government and direction, yet I recall business conditions being tough for a number of years during the late 1970s and early part of the 1980s.
The disruption caused by Brexit and the pandemic is unprecedented, as is the size of the public deficit here in the UK and I am sure this is similar in countries around the world. What I learned from this period is that some companies viewed the situation as gloomy and struggled to survive whilst a few took up the challenge and developed strategies that enabled them to adjust and eventually take advantage of the conditions.
In our largest sector construction, contractors today are managing material shortages, cost increases and a shortage of labour. Yet glass specifications continue to increase as architects seek to achieve improved U-values and pressure is mounting on main contractors to complete sites and avoid penalty charges on projects that are already behind schedule as a result of the pandemic.
The cost of buying higher value glass to meet U-values and the longer lead-times to source replacement glass should it be damaged during construction means that the business case to protect glass and prevent the need for replacement has never been so compelling.
As we reflect on the past and approach a New Year, I would encourage you all to think about the opportunities that lay ahead for your business in 2022.
Thank you for your continued support.
Andrew Keir
Managing Director