August 10, 2020
Unfortunately, I am quite saddened that the Claremont Club has decided to close its doors forever. It went from a success story written up by CBS News to a sad story upsetting most of its 10,000 members and residents. I was proud to be associated with the success story as the Claremont Club gained member support to continue to pay their 260 employees when coronavirus hit. I went to the hair salon when the club reopened since my group tennis lessons were not yet available, and they were following hospital level protocols in essence. In reading the CEOs frequent emails, it was clear that the hope of the reopening (and all the money spent on cleaning and supplies) came crashing down with the abrupt closing ordered by the Governor a few weeks later. The Claremont Club made the news again with a rally to try to save the club. My tennis game and associated camaraderie doesn’t look promising….
The Claremont Club is a severe loss to the members, the community and the residents. It hosted significant tennis tournaments, was home to swimmers qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials, and it had well-respected programs for people with cancer, spinal cord/ paralysis, diabetes and cycling for Parkinson’s. The loss of the Claremont Club goes much further than the loss of an athletic club. In addition to the services for the members, it provided essential health services and attracted people from all over the region, filling Claremont’s restaurants and gaining interest in the community. The club was successful and a top club in the U.S. prior to the coronavirus. Are you assuming your top suppliers will be fine because they were in great shape prior to COVID?
One Tip to Implement This Week:
No one could have predicted COVID-19 and the associated impacts. However, we can evaluate risks immediately. Don’t make assumptions based on pre-COVID conditions. Will your key supplier decide to hang up their hat like the Claremont Club did? Do you know the financials and cash position of your critical suppliers? Are you keeping in touch frequently and finding ways to ensure your key suppliers support your needs? Do you have backup suppliers? More importantly, are you purchasing materials and ingredients from your backup suppliers? If not, what makes you think they will be around when you need them?
Read more about navigating and successfully emerging post COVID-19 in my free eBook Future-Proofing Manufacturing & Supply Chain Post COVID-19. Please send your feedback and stories. I will incorporate into an article, video or interview.