ROBIC APPLAUDS THE GENEROSITY AND INGENUITY OF ITS CLIENTS. HERE IS THE INSPIRING STORY OF SERICO!
Since the beginning of the health crisis, SERICO, a Drummondville-based company, has shown great flexibility and remarkable dexterity.
Like many other companies in Québec, SERICO’s declining activities forced it to lay off 50% of its workforce at the beginning of the pandemic. At that time, the multi-function plant (various printing, school furniture, leisure products) was operating at low capacity until the wife of one of its employees, a pharmacist, requested a prototype for a freestanding protective panel for her drugstore. Within a short period of time, the SERICO team took the necessary steps to create a completely new and unique product, which was quickly approved by its first customer. Satisfied with the result, she published the innovation on the Québec Order of Pharmacists’ Facebook account and SERICO became the reference for hundreds of drugstores.
In less than a few days, SERICO recalled all of its laid-off employees and hired more than 30 new employees. They transformed their plant in order to do everything possible to quickly produce these new products and meet exponential demand. SERICO’s president, Guy Moisan, couldn’t fathom what was happening: “ It’s a miracle! ” he says. For weeks now, more than 5000 units have been created every day. SERICO has delivered thousands of freestanding protective panels in Québec and Canada, and more than 50,000 units in the United States since the beginning of its production in March 2020.
When Mr. Moisan is asked what was the biggest lesson learnt from this experience, he answers with laughter: “ God exists! ” The man, who describes himself as a believer, says that when he hired his employees again, he asked his team members if they would all pray together. To his surprise, they answered the call unanimously. “ Two or three days later, ” he says, “ the orders came in, and it hasn’t stopped since. ”
The COVID-19 experience
The experience of COVID-19 allows Mr. Moisan to affirm that activities related to primary or essential needs are those that will be at the top of his business priorities from now on. He explains that secondary areas, such as recreation and leisure, are not a priority in times of crisis.
For weeks now, it has been full steam ahead at the SERICO plant after having found a new vocation. Mr. Moisan says that some rest is desirable in the near future since a new round of orders is expected soon, this time in the catering sector. SERICO could be given a mandate that they have not seen before, that of supplying protective panels for close to forty major restaurant chains in Canada.
SERICO IS NOW WELL POSITIONED, BOTH IN CANADA AND IN THE UNITED STATES, TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN QUÉBEC! ROBIC IS VERY PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT THIS GREAT INNOVATION FROM RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
