For Bestseller, its business as well as its wholesale customers and retailers had an instant shock effect of the Covid-19 crisis, as almost all stores were closed, and the market disappeared. During this period, "Bestseller reached out to suppliers to spark a dialogue on current and future orders," the company said in an email.
LVMH is also committed to maintaining responsible and fair relationships with its partners. "We continue to work in close cooperation with our suppliers and to provide support during this time, as we have always done. We have especially given instruction to accelerate payments to suppliers. Furthermore, several of our Maisons have provided guidance and concrete support for the sanitary crisis by giving gels, masks, etc. to our suppliers,” a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Likewise, the Bestseller spokesperson said, "At Bestseller, we are well aware that our suppliers and their employees are extremely vulnerable in this situation. Their jobs, their health and their families’ well-being are paramount for us and for our future, and we will do our utmost to safeguard as many jobs as possible throughout our entire value chain."
Assuring suppliers of support, Bestseller's global sourcing director Michael W Schultze has stated: “We will do our utmost to live up to our commitments and take delivery of garments already made and those in production. We are aware of our responsibility and we are in close dialogue with each of our suppliers on how to handle the current crisis. We have to get through this situation by collaboration and in partnerships with our suppliers. We want to support our suppliers and we are still placing orders for the coming seasons.”
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)