"The main support is your team"

In the 24 years of its existence, Collar Company has already survived four business crises and is now dealing with the fifth. The main support during the crisis period is your team. The main task when working with your employees is to get them to understand that the crisis is also an opportunity that can be utilised.
My talks to employees and setting clear tasks have inspired people. To achieve that, we have looked at the functions of each department of the company and formulated a single main task for each that has to be undertaken now. The employees now do the unusual jobs and offer their own ideas to combat the crisis. For example, the department of learning has started the Collar Help project, providing psychological aid to the employees against the overwhelming coronavirus panic. The corporate culture department has initiated a competition for non-standard ideas. Not only is the CEO showing initiative, but also the employees of the company.

The main issue for the Ukrainian and Russian pet business was the closing of pet shops. To solve it, Collar Company and other market operators teamed up and started a "They Want To Eat, Too!" campaign. On behalf of the pet business we sent a message to the president of Ukraine and to the governments of both countries, urging them to open pet shops, veterinary clinics and pharmacies. We achieved our goal in Ukraine, and a similar decision was subsequently taken in Russia. The pet shops have opened and now the manufacturers and distributors of pet goods are able to work.
Until the quarantine measures in Ukraine started to soften (on 11 May), 15-20 percent of pet stores were closed. The cash flow in those shops that have stayed open hasn't changed much. Some regions have changed the assortment: now pet food and cat litter are more in demand. The online trade is picking up. Customers buy less frequently, but buy more goods at once. In general we are optimistic about the manner and time of exiting the crisis for the pet business. We are expecting minimal losses.

The three main principles that guide us during the crisis are:1. Looking at the crisis as an opportunity. 2. Speeding up the work dynamic in comparison with the general mode. 3. Working on the decisions that look…