Consistency in a time of change

IAN FIRTH WARNERS NURSERIES

The last few weeks have given us the opportunity to take stock of where we are. As the population went into isolation and social distancing became a way of life it gave us a chance to reflect on what is important. This pandemic will undoubtedly go down in history as a major event, a thought that has led me to recall something a wise person once said to me, “the further you travel back in time, the more inspiration you have for the future…”

Looking back over the 106-year history of Warners has put where we are today into perspective. Established in the same year as the outbreak of World War One, Warners Nurseries had been trading for five years when the Spanish Flu pandemic hit in 1919. Even then, borders were closed, places of entertainment shut, and the Government mandated the wearing of masks in public to help curb the spread. Next the Great Depression and World War Two. It was then that W.R Warner encouraged residents of Melbourne to “grow your own vegetables” to assist the war effort. Then came Vietnam, The Recession we had to have and the GFC along with a number of droughts & flooding rains. Ok, that’s the history lesson over. Even considering past events there is no denying this is a very difficult time to be trading.

The shake-up of our ‘normal’ world has forced many of us to view things from a different angle and many businesses have had to make changes to their processes. As growers, we maintain our plant stock by pruning to make way for new shoots to grow, the same approach could be applied to our businesses.

What is important is identifying what can be pruned and where new buds are most likely to thrive. Cutting back too far could inhibit growth for years to come. Get it right and the plant will flourish and be healthier.

So, what do we learn when looking back at our history? The key is consistency and reliability. What has not changed at Warners over 106 years is our strong vision, values, hard work and desire to develop relationships. The clarity to focus on what you are best at is often forgotten in the rush to adapt to the latest trends or dealing with day-to-day challenges.

Understanding where you fit in the market and reducing the noise and distractions that takes up much of our time helps us gain focus. But, identifying which of these “distractions” may add to the growth of the business is key. Warners’ consistent focus on Quality, Relationships and Service over the years is what leads to and develops trust.

It’s ironic that a disease that affects our respiratory system has given us a chance to take a collective breath. Sometimes it takes a major event such as this to make us truly reflect on what is important, to focus on the why we do what we do and ensure we do it even better going forward.