"I would like to congratulate you and entire team of Ply Reporter for hosting and conducting this very informative webinar. It is the need of time for Laminate and Allied products. I seriously think no one else could have done, the way you guys have done it, mainly because kind of relation you have developed with the entire trade fraternity that all feel at ease while talking to you and your other team members. This was a much required discussion for which you came forward and provided a platform to discuss and get a first hand opinion. Some talk by book...Some by heart...Some talk by gut feeling or previous experiences and the best part was today mostly all were in the same side of the coin, which made us believe more in ourselves. Once again appreciate all the effort by each and everyone in your team and thank you all for the same."
- Mr Vikas Agarwal, President, ILMA
"Congratulations! Excellent webinar."
- Mr Jikesh Thakkar, Hon. Joint Secretary, ILMA
"I hope you must consider a topic of machinery segment for webinar. This might give a clear picture of FY 20-21 to machinery manufacturers for their business. They shall also get to know what does industry thinks on this sight of time during this unprecedented time."
- Mohit Chhajjer, Ahmedabad
"Well lead and well managed webinar. I have attended many calls, but here you have really utilised the full time. And everyone was participating. Great effort!"
- Mr Jitender of Doormak, Jaipur
"More than excellent webinar! Very positive and enriching, I got direct access to minds of industry leaders that are invaluable. Thanks once again."
- Mr Rajat Salhotra, Advance Decorative Laminates
"Congrats! I feel you have raised the bar in the trade magazine industry."
- Mr Padam Jain, Yamuna Nagar
"Nice seminar! Got the views of all, but I think the panel members were over optimistic as per current scenario. Anyways, you should keep it up... I think there should be provision of question answer session from audience for at least 10 minutes or 10/15 questions from audience."
- Mr Manoj Agarwal, Manilam, Kolkata
"Great efforts bhai! Thanks for organising such webinar. Really hats-off-to-you and the team, thanks."
- Mr Rakesh, Amulya Group
"I congratulate you for the tremendous effort, yet the main question remains unanswered. How are we going to recommence the flow of funds after the end of COVID-19? And I strongly believe in your last video of not stopping the cycle of payments. The video impacted a lot of people and I would request Ply Reporter to begin a campaign for the same by providing short graphical videos and images circulated via social media platforms. It shall help the unorganised sector to regain in business after COVID-19. The industry shall owe you big time!"
- Mr Sahil Aggarwal, R.B Plywood, Pathankot
"Very well managed webinar! Congratulations."
- Mr Pratik Ajmera, Ajmera Ply, Gondia and Nagpur
"It was good hearing all, but, it would have been different if you interview, unorganised sector,as they are more in our country."
- Mr Hitesh Jasani, Mumbai
"Fantastic and excellent."
- Mr Ajay Pandey, Action TESA
"Company has given secured credit to distributer. And distribution has unsecured credit to its customers,Shawl or shield se kaam chla le distributors."
- Mr Yatin Maheshari, Ply Bank, Agra
"Good webinar today. Very well telecasted with a good outreach Pragathji... we should all work towards improving the morale in the cycle."
- MR Ravi Singhal, Log Horn Ply, Vizag
"The mindset of all panel members was very positive and their opinion brought positivity to the industry in every aspect from manufacturing to trade angle as well. How well funds will be managed from the market is a big challenge? But most of them are optimistic that things will fall in place in 3-4months."
- Kumar Praveen, Yamunanagar
"प्लाईवुड ट्रेडर्स का इस लॉक डाउन में आत्मविश्वास काफी टूट गया था पर इस डिस्कशन से काफी विश्वास बढ़ेगा।कुछ समय पेसेंस रखना पड़ेगा सब अच्छा हो जाएगा। इंडिया में देश में बना प्रोडक्ट ही बिक सके इसके लिए मैन्युफैक्चरर्स का सहयोग, बढ़िया क्वालिटी और मुनासिव रेट होना जरूरी है। आगे बढ़े।"
- Manoj Agarwal, Kolkata
"वर्तमान परिस्थितियों के चलते भले ही हमारा व्यापार प्रभावित हुआ हो लेकिन इन परिस्थिति से हमें घबराना नहीं है। क्योंकि बड़े बुजुर्गों का कहना है कि जहाँ अंधेरा होता है वहाँ उजाला जल्द ही होता है। अतः हमें इन परिस्थितियों से न डरकर फिर से एकबार उठेंगे ऐसा विश्वास हमें मन में लेकर चलना है।"
- विजय पटेल, अध्यक्ष, रायपुर प्लाइवुड ट्रेडर एसोसीएसन
"Excellent effort by Ply Reporter and is very appropriate and timely. I strongly believe that, till the supply is not re-established with the retail segment, to recover payment will be difficult."
Suraj Ratan Mundhra, Chairman, ARCL
"For economy to brought in rotation is must. One more cycle is going to be outstanding. To overcome this situation and back to rotation, the payment whether in bulk or part should be kept flowing and the money collected to be kept in rotation. It had to be from source end. Factories to Distributors to Dealers to Customers.... Once this is built the trade will be back to cycle. This will take about 60 days. To have liquidation in trade, we should go on sale to distribution or LC or Promissory notes which can be encashed with bank and have liquidity with company. And for press plates also, the same can also be developed. We should focus on ‘Make In India’ project. For laminate industry to be self independent in India we should have 4 to 5 paper mills to supply base paper and print them and also about 20-25 printers. In this way we can be self dependent from paper side."
- Janak Vyas, VP Sales & Marketing, Durian Laminates
"The dealers have a responsibility to minimise imports and the manufacturers have a responsibility to be very competitive ... what’s made in India we should avoid importing, provided the manufacturers are cognizant of giving value to the dealers also. So, joint effort and also regular dialogue with the fraternity and webinar’s like this will help a lot..: super effort by Pargat and his awesome team."
- Mahesh Talreja, Mumbai
"Exact market review about retail market and the role of wholesalers and distributors in this situation. Do the big players will give advance cheque retailers for 3/4 months? Big players have both Indian and international markets too, they are playing very safe in both the markets,but in Indian market there will be payment load in retail and distribution level. Big players have told in webinar that they will give more discounts in Apd basis. But,on the other hand they are telling also for smart sales no overstock to distribution, ultimately the load is on retailers only. Very good webinar and good job Ply Reporter keep it up."
- Mukesh Balodia, Bargardh
"The customers are going to hold their funds for certain time and once they are comfortable, they will start investing on interiors. This is not a basic necessity commodity. Our Industry is labour driven, if we can keep them informed and aware to keep them safe, the better we can recover. The companies can do some changes in their cost model, they can try to attract customers by giving some discount initially, so that once the customer starts pouring, the market will become better."
Rahul Ranjan, MD, Enersense Solutions Pvt Ltd
"To laminate manufacturers take some overstock back from distributors, because before corona everyone has overstocked due to schemes, price increase hyped in February. This stock will help distributor to lower their credit amount from factory and this will help manufacturer to save their working capital to produce that material. Even they can reduce the price taking backstock due to their overheads like folders, pop etc. This fact can never be denied that the bad debts percentage will be sure more than past. But this is a life phase and we can take an example of any natural calamities like earthquakes, tsunami etc. So, be positive only. All decorative industry players should come with a big amount to help government instead of demanding finance. Industry should be more organized in terms of billing because I think the government will be stricter in future to cover its loss in corona period. We are very dependent on imports for laminate production. Is it possible to give made in India laminates without major dependency on imports? Secondly, factory to wholesaler payment is quite safe than wholesaler to retailer. Well said Ahuja ji that pressurization of sales from factory should be stopped. Over sales is always harmful."
- Naveen Kumar, Gurgaon, Haryana
"Can all companies owner talk to government to ban import of furniture from China? Money is in India only, in this lockdown period people are not spending money unnecessarily. Nobody has shifted the money from out of country. We need work hard whether it is dealer, retailers and also we need to educate the contractors to work hard. When we will work hard grow gradually."
- Nitin Dubey, Branch Sales Manager, Century Ply Boards India Ltd
"I am from hardware industry. What I can see based in Kolkata is the problem of labour the labour which is available in Kolkata is from Bihar, prestigious projects are done by labours from Bombay and Hyderabad so beginning projects after lockdown opens will take time. It's tough time ahead."
- Manish Agarwal, Proprietor, Salasar Sales
"Retailers payment cycle will extend from 90-120 days. After lockdown, there will be another lockdown for three month.....as per Keshav ji. How the decorative laminates market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years."
- Amit K Sharma, New Delhi
"Channel partners, especially small dealers are using the funds from companies and if asked for payment they get associated with new company. Working with own fund is good solution. Cash sales are only option and for that everybody will have to come together. Excellent work and conclusion by Ply Reporter!"
- Ajeet Kumar Singh, ASM, Shirdi industries limited (ASIS)
" Many projects will be on hold due to shortage of labour. Same problems will be faced by architects and interior designers. The payment from Govt projects are also not coming on time. Those who have to sustain in the market they will have to give payments and manage it."
- Deepak Jain, New Delhi
"Good wishes from Wood Technologist Association. We must watch interest of farmers...technologists...workers...and the industry. Our weakest partners are workers and staff, their interest should be watched. They are the nut bolt of our Industry. Secondly, the import of machines, core, face veneers must be stopped immediately. Rajesh Shah, Mangalore: The lockdown will knockdown whole economy. Don't expect any freebies from government. Benefit of fall in Crude oil wasn't passed. Retailers are Re-seller. They maintain just in time inventory. Things will start unfolding post release of lockdown. Demonetisation and implementation of GST is opposite or different to Lockdown. 40 days already has reduced from this financial year's GDP by 20 lac crore per day. Loss of business is about 50000 cr per day based on GST collection figures of 3333 cr per day. Cheaper electronics household appliances,mobile phones etc may be possible because of import from China. Deepak Parekh has advised developers to liquidate their projects accepting prices minus 20%.
Plywood Panel consisted more of First Generation Promoters while Decorative Veneers Laminates panel consists more of Second Generation who have inherited said businesses from their fore fathers. Definitely there will be lot of Takeovers as prices of quoted Equity is less."
- Subhash Jolly, Kochi
"India will grow in exports and domestic markets also. We need to balance our family and associates."
- Naveen Cally, New Delhi
"Payments cycle should be gradually increased like after lock down first 60 days then 45 days then 30 days. Companies should trust their dealers and distributors. Jayesh Vadhia, Founder, PR Vadhia Company: Yet another mind blowing webinar by team Ply Reporter. Thank you very much for bringing industry to our doorsteps. Coming of industry is same, may be today if one brand is leading & next month other. Industry should accept the pause and start playing as it was before pause."
- Satish Bajaj, Partner, Satyam Hardware
"Employees and dealers are important for any company. They can avoid other extra expenses like exhibitions, TV ads, big seminars meetings etc this year to maintain the expenses or other things! Things will be good after 3-4 months for sure. According to me, Plywood will suffer more than MDF-PARTICLE for sure .People (customers) will avoid carpenters to give entry in their houses in next few months. Decorative veneers market is very slow and after this crisis suddenly the veneer market has lost its ground. What is the processto develop this market?"
- Sushil Upadhyay, New Delhi
"We need to talk to our business verticals... factory to dealer/wholesaler and wholesaler to dealers/ carpenters/architects... if the cycle moves we will do well. Everybody should take views from everyone in trade verticals."
- Ravi Singhal, Director, Logharn Industries Pvt Ltd
"This situation is totally different with last all slowdowns. Because this is pandemic not a trade slow down so we can't compare present market situation with last one. They will not prefer to enter carpenters until the vaccine arrives. For 100% normalization it will take more then 6 months or till the world get corona vaccine. Till then how all are planning to manage labour and wages payments. Furniture market will grow tremendously, as people will avoid in house carpenters work."
- Ravindra Chhajer, MD, Ambika Hydraulics Pvt Ltd
"Instead of actual problem some retailers will give silly reasons to avoid payments but in reality they have like they gave at the time of yes bank issue. I think all manufacturers should do something of not depending so much on China because they will everything for their interest."
- Mohit Garg, Self Employed, Chandigarh
"Very well organised webinar by ply reporter, great initiative. I want to ask imports will be closed for time being and majority of design papers are imported from China, do we have stock of design papers to meet the demand for the next six months?"
- Pankaj Goel, Century Design, Siliguri, West Bengal
"Tough time upto September, but we can overcame if we focussed on domestic manufacturing and promote Make in India. To ban import furniture items & product is required .It’s now only Sanjeevji for the make market in normal way."
- Ashutosh Yadav, Tetery Manager, Century Plyboards
"The famous Quad of US, India, Australia, Japan - can do wonders and shift the global economy into our direction. We cannot and should not count much on the Govt. It doesn't seem practical."
- Sreekanth Vaidya
"It was 6 months before 2012, when the then Govt at centre changed in to 3months. Panelists have to find a way to increase the Chqs deposit period to 6 months from current 3 months and this has to be put forward to the Govt."
- Narendra Gala, Mumbai
"Congratulations to ply reporter and Pragat Dvivedi ji for such a wonderful webinar. What about the dead inventory in factory, do they have any plan?"
- Bikash Poddar, Self Employed, Kolkata
"We need to make positive vibration and aggressively move ahead, that help us to change in industries! Thank you so much Ajyaji, very much inspired! Good efforts, thanks to all for the thought process share to us."
- Amitav Satpathy, Branch Head, The indian Plywood Mfg Co Pvt ltd
" What About payment rolling and recovery process...any plan n suggestions..? Did overseas company will invest in India after lockdown...? If yes than I hope India revenue and monetary level will come much better and faster. What will happen to decorative products like Corian, Veneer, Highliters etc apart only laminates products?"
- Amit Jajoo, Jaipur
"Definitely dealers’ payment to OEMs and exports will take time to recycle. Every things depends on the cash flow and it's global effect we have to think beyond domestic. The working style of MDF and Laminate industry will change. Overall the wholesalers have all the responsibility to balance between industry and retailers big cash required rather than already they invested."
- Sharad Mishra, Owner, Srikrishna Sales Corporation
"We have to work in current payment only whenever the lockdown opens and add 10% old payment then only slowly the market will come to routine working and cash flow will increase."
- Nitin Khandelwal, Jaipur
"For Pending payments, distributors and manufacturers should give some time frame and after opening the market work with only current payment or with strict time frame for payment."
- Sachin Thawani, Indore
"Has industry not failed in representing to the govt in asking for concrete support from banks and give subsidy for lockdown period."
- SK Gupta, Sundek India Pvt Ltd, Kerala
"In my opinion, less work or equivalent to no work will be there in the market due to people not having enough money and less availability of labour especially for branded products."
- Chandan Jain, Proprietor, Shruti Plywood, Faridabad
"We are talking about only current shortage of cash, what about savings. If we use that money very soon situation will be better.Payment recovery will be slow only for one to two months, all scenario will be normal very soon."
- Jatin Jain, Plywood wholesale, Ganour, Haryana
"If b2c becomes secure entire channel becomes secure from top to end. I think all credit sales should be backed by an undated cheque at the retail or b2c level. It should be made compulsory by ATMA."
- Manu Khandelwal, New Delhi
"East & North East at Formica India: The company who is more into project and OEM sales they will face huge liquidity crunch, whereas company who has more retail sales they will have less liquidity crunch."
- Jyotirmoy Das, Zonal Sales Manager
"Nobody wants to kill hen, it may be Government or our channel partners. So, be positive. Thanks Pargatji, by these webinars you are boosting our energy."
- Naresh Tewari, Chairman, AIPMA
"Retailers are in big pain than companies as they deal with final consumers and they have big numbers of customers then and manufacturers."
- Pratik Ajmera, Ajmer
"Well done all the motivational spirit is high in all and definitely we will overcome hard times. Congratulations to Ply Reporter team for organizing the platform. Mohinder Sachdev, New Delhi: I agree with Keshavji, everything will be fine in a few months say 3 to 4 months and of course we have to arrange extra liquidity till then."
- Sukhdeep Sethi, Sales Team Manager, M’WUD
"There were two carpenters working one was continuously working and the other one was working with breaks. Who has more wood at the end? The one who was working with breaks, because his Axe was sharp. This is the best time we should be positive and we should sharpen our axes."
- Sanam Luthra, MD, Standard Industries (Platinum), Yamunanagar
# Read on detail report of the webinar in the next issue of Ply Reporter.