Too often in the corporate world, it's "dog eats dog." I want to share with you something that happened today between direct competitors that warms the heart.
Among our clients, there are two companies, one large - one medium, that are the exclusive producers of a particular product. The raw materials for this product are the same. They have been in direct competition for decades.
Yesterday, one realized that they had run out of one of these raw materials. The next delivery is slated to arrive via rail "sometime" next week. But unfortunately, there is no guarantee on delivery dates with rail, it could be as long as another two weeks. They will be completely out of that product by Monday. This means the equipment must stop - everything on the manufacturing floor will come to a complete standstill. Dollars will tick away with every minute those machines must wait for that raw material. Anyone who has experience with manufacturing knows this.
Their direct competitor - their only competitor - had that very raw material available at their facility. They offered a truckload - at cost - to help. They could have jacked up the price, or not offered it at all. They could have used it as a way to win sales from their competitor who would thus miss their deadlines.
But they didn't. They acted with compassion.
Among our clients, there are two companies, one large - one medium, that are the exclusive producers of a particular product. The raw materials for this product are the same. They have been in direct competition for decades.
Yesterday, one realized that they had run out of one of these raw materials. The next delivery is slated to arrive via rail "sometime" next week. But unfortunately, there is no guarantee on delivery dates with rail, it could be as long as another two weeks. They will be completely out of that product by Monday. This means the equipment must stop - everything on the manufacturing floor will come to a complete standstill. Dollars will tick away with every minute those machines must wait for that raw material. Anyone who has experience with manufacturing knows this.
Their direct competitor - their only competitor - had that very raw material available at their facility. They offered a truckload - at cost - to help. They could have jacked up the price, or not offered it at all. They could have used it as a way to win sales from their competitor who would thus miss their deadlines.
But they didn't. They acted with compassion.
This isn't the first time this has happened, either. Over the decades there have been times when one or the other found themselves in need of help. There have been plant fires, floods and times when they find themselves short of material due to late shipments or other issues that crop up in any business. Each and every time, they have acted with compassion to the competition.
Too often we hear about the ugly side of American corporations. While I cannot share who these companies are, due to confidentiality, I will salute all they have done over the years.
Too often we hear about the ugly side of American corporations. While I cannot share who these companies are, due to confidentiality, I will salute all they have done over the years.
~ ESA
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