b'LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO STAND BACK FROM THE AUGER WHERE IT IS QUIET, SO YOU CAN STILL TOUCH BASE WITH YOUR CUSTOMER AND HAVE A TALK WHILE MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES. Brad PinkertonHow were you and your customers challengednecessary. Only a couple of people have when the pandemic hit? wanted paper. Most prefer the digital In the beginning we had to improvise. Icopy, which isnt surprising. was out dropping off important breeder seed early on. As I entered a business,What are some of the biggest concerns Brad Pinkerton I needed to know what my obligationsyouve heard from retailers?Manitoba business rep were. Even today as we begin to re-open,They were quite concerned how they SeCan there are guidelines in place so thatwould get the seed out to customers if Brad provides technicalanyone entering an establishment knowstheir staff got sick.support to members andwhat to do. Its all about how you getThey had to maintain their health coordinates local activitiespeople the information they need so theyto do their job and get the seed in the involving SeCan and itsknow what they should do to keep them- ground. Above all, retailers miss the customers selves and everyone else safe. opportunity for a good face-to-face visit. Loading can often be the only in-person What were some early mistakes made? contact they get. With social distanc-In the early days as things were first shut- ing measures, that is missing. Its hard ting down, some retailers got info outto provide extra service nowleaving to their customers via email. If Im not atrucks overnight for loading and return is regular customer I wouldnt necessarily getrisky. There will be fewer extra services the emails. Printing things out on paperprovided this year simply for logistical and putting it up on the office door was areasons.good strategy. Id go out to read the sign and it would say, Stay in your vehicle.Whats one of your top tips for having as Slowly as the provincial rules were madepersonal an interaction as possible while clear everyone started to build their ownstaying safe?unique strategy. Look for opportunities to stand back from the auger where it is quiet, so you What did some of those strategies look like? can still touch base with your customer A good example is Pitura Seeds. Whenand have a talk while maintaining social you enter the yard, you are greeted to adistancing guidelines. nice big stop sign, telling van trailers and grain trailers where to go. They have red tape lines on the pavement outside to help people social distance. Other great ideas include some used by the RiddellWatch our full-length webinar on this very topic for more Seed Company. They switched to elec- insights! Visit germination.ca/doing-business-in-a-new-tronic paperwork only, unless absolutelyworld-a-retail-roundtable-webinar/SUPPORTED BY: ENDORSED BY:38GERMINATION.CAJULY 2020'