Our Linden. A suburb with a heart.: Orejen, stepping up.Post lockdown plans.

During WW2, when the majority of the manufacturing industry in the USA was focused on the war effort and marketing budgets were being slashed to the bone or non-existent, the then CEO of Heinz, Jack Heinz, chose to continue marketing his product range. When asked "Why"? his response was "One day the war will be over and I want my brand to be remembered"!

Between 1941 and 1946, Heinz sales nearly doubled to $4m.

I am offering to help retail outlets in Linden with postings like this to maintain their brand profile while they are in lockdown.

So, just like Heinz, they too will come out stronger and in a better position to tackle their post lockdown marketing strategies.

Unlike the Ruperts, Oppenheimers and Motsepes of this world, I don’t have R1b in my bank account to donate to the war chest, so this effort is my contribution to that initiative.

Orejen is the first in what I hope will be a series of businesses that will want to participate.

The ever-changing facade of Orejen,

the treasure trove of a shop that can be found at 24 5th Street, Linden

But be aware...behind these doors lurk old fashioned service and courtesy

harking back to a long-forgotten time when the customer was king.

The shop has been in its current location for 18 years.

(Before they moved there, they were situated in Greenside)

Jennifer...the owner.

If the shop stocks it, Jennifer knows where the item is...

if it is NOT in stock, she can obtain it for you.

More importantly, she can source bespoke windows and doors!

All made from reclaimed wood...

Manuel, her husband is happiest when he has a power-tool in his hands.

And then along came THIS and closed this wonderful shop down.

But was Jennifer stressed? In the beginning yes,

but as one of the most vociferous proponents of "SUPPORT LOCAL SHOPS"

she has made a plan and she, her husband Manuel and all her staff are safe and healthy.

I asked her about her plans post lockdown...

These were her responses...

How long has the business been operational?

34 YEARS IN TOTAL AND 20 YEARS RETAIL.

How many staff do you employ and where are they currently?

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 8 STAFF MEMBERS.

PAID IN FULL TILL THE END OF APRIL AND SAFE AT HOME.

WE HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP US GOING UNTIL THE END OF MAY.

What arrangements have you made with your staff about reemployment post lockdown?

BACK TO WORK ON THE DAY WE OPEN.

Do you anticipate becoming operational again once the lockdown has been lifted?

OH YES!

How are you dealing with your debtors and creditors?

SMALL DEBTORS WHO KNOW THAT THEIR STOCK IS IN OUR SHOP AND NO CREDITORS.

When you reopen will you be offering any 'specials' to get cash flowing again?

YES.
WE WILL BE OFFERING A 10% DISCOUNT FOR ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ORDERED AND A 20% DISCOUNT FOR EVERYTHING
WE HAVE IN STOCK AND ON HAND.

What would you like to say to readers about your brand that will make it "front-of-mind"

once this is all over?

RE-USING, RE-CYCLING AND SAVING THE PAST. NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TRYING TO SAVE THE RESOURCES WE ALREADY HAVE.

How are you dealing with the mental aspect of the closure of the business and the fear that both you and your staff might share going forward?

PREPARED FOR ANYTHING THAT THIS THROWS AT US. WE ARE FORTUNATE NOT TO OWE ANYONE ANY MONEY SO WE ARE AT AN ADVANTAGE.

OUR STAFF LOVE OREJEN PASSIONATELY AND OUR CLIENTS LOVE VISITING US. WE ARE READY AND PREPARED MENTALLY TO WORK 100 TIMES HARDER TO MAKE UP FOR THE TIME WE WERE CLOSED.

The doors to this wonderful shop will open once the lockdown
has been revoked and Jennifer and her staff will be on hand
to welcome both old and new clients and friends.