The hostettler group keeps the wheels turning despite the Corona pandemic
The Federal Council of Switzerland and the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) ordered extensive measures to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) on 16 March 2020. By making flexible and forward-looking plans, the hostettler group intends to safeguard the health of its employees and at the same time create the best possible conditions for the economic success of the company.
A task force consisting of members of the management and departmental managers are steering the measures to contain the coronavirus within the hostettler group. It is meeting several times a week until further notice to clarify important issues, make decisions and initiate the steps required.
They include measures such as compliance with the rules of the FOPH, working from home where possible, separated workstations, compliance with the social distancing rules in our premises, amalgamating shipments, contacting suppliers, organising reserve teams and deputising together with the deployment of sales reps in other areas as well as shift work and safeguarding our finances etc.
No dismissals – short-time working possible
An important signal to the approximately 750 employees of the hostettler group is the decision by the management to refrain from any dismissals as a result of the current challenges. Nevertheless, the option of short-time working is being reviewed in certain areas and will be implemented if necessary.
Thanks to exceptional regulations issued by the Federal Council of Switzerland, so far vehicle workshops are currently exempted from the temporary company closures as a result of the coronavirus. For this reason, the individual hostettler companies can continue to supply their customers and sales partners with vehicles and goods. For example, hostettler autotechnik, hostettler veloland or the workshops of hostettler retail ag.
Huge demand online
In some sections such as new vehicles, sales are at lower levels, while the companies in the hostettler group operating in B2C online trading are experiencing high demand – in Switzerland as well as in Germany. This has demonstrated that the aggressive expansion of digital sales channels by the hostettler group over the last few years is now an important economic mainstay – and therefore an additional sales channel.
Overall, the damage to the hostettler group is currently still manageable thanks to the Swiss regulations on exemption for the vehicle industry.
Services for commercial customers
The companies hostettler autotechnik ag, intercycle ag, hostettler gmbh, Sports Nut GmbH, Parts World AG, Freidig Moto-Active GmbH, hostettler motoren ag and hostettler ag with Yamaha as well as their iXS and Motochic divisions continue to process orders from commercial customers and deliver them as quickly as possible using their own delivery service or logistics partners.
Services for private customers
The companies of hostettler retail ag and hostettler veloland gmbh are happy to accept orders from private customers by telephone or e-mail for service and repairs to motorcycles and scooters or bicycles, or orders for new vehicles and goods.
It is also possible to make online appointments for service work or tyre changes on cars, motorcycles or scooters via the yourwheels.ch platform.
Dropshipping
The shops of many retailers have been closed for several days. Excluded from the sales ban are consultations and sales which are carried out online, by e-mail or telephone. intercycle ag and, from 6 April 2020, hostettler ag with their iXS and Motochic divisions (without motorcycle tyres, batteries) will offer specialist trade orders directly to end customers via dropshipping.
The following online shops look forward to receiving orders from private customers.
Bicycle sector: BiXS.com, sportszone.ch, wheeler.ch und bike-mailorder.com
Motorcycle clothing and accessories sector: ixs.com, mxparts.ch, partsworldshop.com
Sincere thanks
The management of the hostettler group and its employees would like to thank everyone who is working day and night to overcome this pandemic, in particular the medical teams, researchers, volunteers and people who continue to work to maintain other services. Our thoughts are with those who are suffering the most, who have lost someone and people who are trying to overcome the virus.
We would like to thank our customers for their loyalty to our company and our products as well as for their understanding regarding the current restrictions.
The owners, management and employees of the hostettler group
