Local online retailer OneDayOnly.co.za says that while it understands and supports the intentions behind the revised regulations, it feels for its suppliers and is concerned about the knock-on effects for itself and the industry as a whole.
In a tweet following the speech, former public protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela asked why regulations could not have been passed on a Thursday night to be effective from the Monday: “Businesses would have been saved from incurring costs for stock that will not move for a long time [and] Thursday would be ideal because trading from Friday to Sunday is prohibited."
What if the regulations were passed on a Thursday night to be effective from the following Monday. Businesses would have been saved from incurring costs for stock that will not move for a long time. Thursday would be ideal because trading from Friday to Sunday is prohibited. https://t.co/ZuJjBjblti
— Prof Thuli Madonsela (@ThuliMadonsela3) July 13, 2020
Stock that the company was waiting to receive from its suppliers has been put on hold, meaning OneDayOnly's suppliers will not deliver until regulations allow.
When asked what he would recommend in terms of process for the industry, Leighton says, “First prize would be the ability to continue to sell with deferred delivery, as this will enable us to help support those wine farms and other outlets that will desperately need the economic support. This was our sales structure during Levels 4 and 5 of lockdown and, given the challenging situation, worked well.”
