Coronavirus influences first quarter 2020 at Veiling Rhein-Maas: Veiling Rhein-Maas

At Veiling Rhein-Maas, the first quarter of 2020 started very satisfying, with product sales slightly above the previous year's level by the end of week 11. As a result of the regulations implemented in context of the Corona crisis by the Federal Government and the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia, the flower and plant market almost completely broke down. Only after the adjustment of supply quantities, the implementation of hygiene and protective measure and the expansion of the digital market channels Remote Buying, Clock pre Sales and Webshop, the situation in Straelen-Herongen improved in small steps. The optimal weather situation was especially pleasing as it contributed to this positive development.

Protective measures in the auction room
As part of the imposed safety measures, about half of the seats in the auction room were blocked in order to maintain the necessary minimum distance of 1.5 metres between customers on site in Straelen-Herongen. In addition, protective panels were installed at all seats in the auction room. Once again, Veiling Rhein-Maas would like to thank all customers for their understanding and support regarding these measures.

Modernisation of the control panels completed
The physical auction clock - including Remote Buying and Clock pre sales - remains the commercial heart of Veiling Rhein-Maas. Therefore, in November 2019, Veiling Rhein-Maas has started to modernise the control panels - to the right of the screens - of all seats in the auction room. This measure was successfully completed as planned in March 2020. In addition, the complete front of the auction clock will be converted into a LED display this year and first technical preparations for this measure have already started.

Successful launch of the Webshop
At the beginning of January 2020, the new Webshop of Veiling Rhein-Maas has officially gone online, offering an even wider range of products and generating additional purchasing and sales opportunities for our customers and suppliers. Since the launch of the Webshop, many customers and suppliers have already taken advantage of this new purchasing and sales channel. By the end of the first quarter of 2020, around 450 customers and suppliers each were already registered for purchasing and selling via the Webshop.

Event highlights
Veiling Rhein-Maas successfully started into the year 2020 with the ninth customers and suppliers day on the theme of ‘Service’ and about 500 guests. In the first three months of the year, Veiling Rhein-Maas was present at national and international trade fairs: IPM (Essen, DE), Vaktentoonstelling (Zwaagdijk, NL), HortiContact (Gorinchem, NL) and FlorEvent (Paris, FR). Unfortunately, it was not possible to participate in Myplant & Garden (Milan, IT) as this trade fair was cancelled due to the spread of the Coronavirus.

Good start into the second quarter
Veiling Rhein-Maas has started the second quarter of 2020 with a positive Easter business and realised a higher turnover during the Easter week than last year. This year, most of the Easter week sales took place digitally. Due to the capacity expansion at Remote Buying, the customers of Veiling Rhein-Maas increasingly participated in the auction via this digital purchasing channel. Furthermore, Clock Service, Clock pre sales and Webshop were intensively used to complete purchases. The Webshop thus achieved the highest weekly sales up to date in the Easter week. Click here if you want more information about placing your products in the Webshop.

Coronavirus influences first quarter 2020 at Veiling Rhein-Maas

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