Truckman has increased its warehousing capacity to store imported stock ordered prior to the lockdown.
The West Midlands-based company had more than 900 hardtops and accessories already in its long-lead supply chain prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and has increased its storage to ensure the stock is secure and available when restrictions are lifted and orders are placed.
The stock, which is being transported from the Far East, is being stored in 12,000 sq ft of temporary storage space in Dudley to provide additional capacity alongside Truckman’s existing 112,000 square feet of warehouse at its nearby headquarters. Truckman’s main warehouse is also used to store its UK-made hardtops manufactured at its production facility.
The business, which works with OEMs as well as directly with fleets and private vehicle owners, expects that the additional properties, which are on short-term leases, will be vacated approximately six to 10 weeks after the easing of the lockdown as the company begins to fulfil new orders.
Executive chairman Mike Wheeler explained: “The coronavirus pandemic has created several challenges for businesses, including managing supply chains. We have had six weeks of stock coming in the UK with minimal sales demand as a result of the lockdown, which is why we have had to adapt and respond quickly with temporary warehousing space.
“Our orders for these products were placed in the months before the pandemic, and it was important that the stock was stored safely whilst we wait for demand to return.
“We are confident that demand will return for our products, both from the commercial sectors we work with such as off-highway industries where activity is beginning to resume, but also from private customers when an increase in vehicle sales begins.”
