Associated Press is running an article this afternoon called Retailers stock up as Gustav nears coast. The article discusses different measures that retailers are rolling out in order to prepare for the storm, to make sure that they are able to reopen quickly after the storm hits and to provide the supplies the people need in the aftermath.
Some interesting points:
- Home Depot is staging critical supplies, such as lumber and generators, within a day’s drive of the stores that are expected to be hit.
- Wal-Mart shipped 47 truckloads of water to the region on Thursday.
- Target is making sure that supplies, such as personal hygiene products, are shipped not only to the affected region, but to places where evacuees are likely to be moved to.
The logistics of making sure the stores are able to open up in the aftermath of a major natural disaster like this is astounding. The retailers need their employees to be safe, need the stores to be stocked, and need to have distribution and communication networks in place to ensure everything goes smoothly. This is a huge undertaking, but retailers like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and Target plan for these types of events in advance and have the support systems in place to make sure the transition goes as smoothly as possible.
In addition to Home Depot, more companies are turning to Twitter to communicate storm tips and company information related to Hurricane Gustav.
Today, the ComcastCares Twitter account started posting very helpful, electronic/communication-related storm preparation tips. The ComcastCares account is always a very helpful, customer-facing extension of Comcast – but in this situation, they adapted to the situation at hand and are posting helpful storm tips. All of this, and I don’t even think Comcast is available in the New Orleans area at this time. It is great to see them using Twitter to offer their expertise even though there is no direct business impact for them.
Last night, JetBlue Airways used their Twitter to send out updated travel information for the New Orleans area. The airliner also has a large page on their site dedicated to storm information and updates.
Twitter is really shining in this moment of darkness. The service is being used by many to send out real time storm information, updates, evacuation information, etc. I would expect that every retailer in the area is in some sort of emergency operations mode, and Twitter is a way for the retailers to send valuable information to the communities they serve: store closings, special inventory alerts, community information.
Hurricane Gustav continues to develop into a monster storm in the Gulf of Mexico. With the tragic lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, residents and retailers alike are taking a more proactive approach to the arrival of this hurricane.
Yesterday, I talked about how well Home Depot was using their Twitter account to communicate hurricane tips and store information. Taking a look at the Home Depot Twitter, it appears that they have a dozen stores staying open all night in the Gulf Coast area. They’ve also brought in out of town volunteers to work the stores, allowing the local employees to secure their homes and evacuate. In addition to providing valuable information online, they’re also bringing supplies to the communities in need and staying open to allow people the time to get what they need. Home Depot also offers a section on their website with a wealth of information related to hurricane preparation.
The Wall Street Journal profiled the Walmart emergency operations center in Bentonville. Within the operations center, the retailer monitors the storm, communicates with the stores in the path of the storm, and plans on how to bring needed supplies, merchandise, and resources to the affected region. Walmart rapidly deployed resources to the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and can serve as a model for retailer involvement in disaster relief.
Winn-Dixie has a list of their store closings on their website. Nola.com has several photos showing a very empty Winn-Dixie in New Orleans.
Publix is the sponsor of a website called Hurricane Gustav Resources. This website seems to be a great resource of shelters that are open and evacuation information.
Obvious business motives aside, it is great to see these businesses working so hard to assist their communities. If you know of other retailers working to assist the Gulf Coast, please let me know in the comments.
Photo from Flickr user Maitri, used under Creative Commons.
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Read more about: disaster, emergency preparation, gulf coast, Home Depot, Hurricane Gustav, lousiana, new orleans, positive, publix, walmart, winn-dixie
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As the Gulf Coast of the United States makes preparations for the impact of Hurricane Gustav, I have to say that I am very impressed by the way Home Depot is using Twitter to communicate preparation tips and store information. The Home Depot Twitter account, which is generally filled with helpful home improvement tips, has switched gears to provide information targeted to Gulf Coast residents and those who are in the path of the storm.
Recent updates today have included general hurricane preparation tips about moving appliances, the danger of carbon monoxide from emergency generators, and reminding people to locate their main water and electric shut off switches. There has also been information about store closings and the availability of water.
This is a great use of Twitter by a retailer. They’re using the service to focus communication on information related to this very dangerous storm. I see this as a way for the retailer to assist the community that it serves. Good job by Home Depot.
My thoughts go out to everyone in the path of the storm.
Couple of stories catching my eye this morning:
The New York Times has a look Red Hook, Brooklyn, just a couple of months after the Ikea there opened. Many community residents were against the opening of this location, as they feared the traffic and noise impact on the local community. Ikea also tore down several historic buildings to make room for this location. But now, just two months after the retailer opened there, some residents in the community are finding positives in what Ikea has brought to the community.
Best Buy has announced a series of airport kiosks/vending machines that will dispense cell phone accessories and other portable electronics. Apple has had their own iPod vending machines in airports and other locations for a few years now and this model has, seemingly, worked well for them. This similar model should also prove to be a low-cost distribution channel for Best Buy.
Finally, Customer World is discussing social media in banking and the obstacles that it faces in adoption. Interesting views on an industry that has been slow to adopt social media and why customers would be reluctant to embrace social networking in banking.
