Update from our CEO on the corona situation
Dear colleagues,
The last couple of weeks we have experienced a situation in Europe, which none of us have ever seen before, and which is extremely challenging for business in general, for JYSK and of course for all of us as individuals.
We have seen a big number of fatalities, and many have lost loved ones.
We have also seen the majority of our stores closed by local governments, and we have seen how citizens all over the world have been encouraged or even forced to stay inside in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
I fully understand that this is a challenge for all of you on a professional as well as on a personal level, as you all have to take care of yourself and your family.
I also understand that those closest to you are of course your first priority in the current situation.
Test of JYSK Values
However, JYSK also needs focus from those of you, who are still allowed to work.
JYSK is a big and financially solid company, but that does not mean that we are unaffected by the current situation.
With the majority of stores closed and the majority of costs remaining, it is a tough situation.
Therefore it has never been more important than now to embrace our JYSK Values: Tradesman, Colleague and Corporate Spirit.
We have to be clever and act as tradesmen. We have to cut costs where possible, and we have to make sure that we to keep selling whether it is online or from stores still open. We owe that to JYSK and to each other, but also to our governments and countrymen, which are supporting private businesses in most countries.
We also need to be good colleagues. We need to keep a distance to each other in our stores, distribution centres and offices. We need to wash and clean our hands regularly, and we need to remind our customers to do the same. But we also have to remember that we are not equally exposed to the threat of coronavirus. We need to make the extra efforts to protect those in JYSK, who as a result of age or disease face even bigger risks if being infected. That is also part of being a great colleague.
We also have to remember our corporate spirit. We are in this together, and despite the tough situation it has been encouraging to experience how we together have managed to keep up the spirit and do our best efforts every day. That is much appreciated and needed to get out of this situation as a strong company.
I promise each and every one of you that not only I but all members of management are similarly engaged and will do their best to ensure that JYSK gets through this crisis in the best way possible.
Tough decisions will have to be made, and we will all have to work hard. But then I am also sure that we will come out of this even stronger. This is also why we try to keep plans for expansion and rearrangements as planned. We need to be fit and ready on the other side of this crisis, so we can continue the success of JYSK.
Take care.
Best regards,
Jan Bøgh
CEO & President, JYSK
