Local Hayden, ID custom shops feeling first economic symptoms of coronavirusI know you were kidding, but even mundane things like valve covers ARE affected.Coeur d'Alene Press
By Craig Northrup, Staff Writer
February 29, 2020The coronavirus has launched a ripple effect that can be felt across the globe, from the now-2,800-plus dead to the 83,000-plus diagnoses to worldwide fears that have spiked sales in respiratory masks and bottled water.
The arrival of the virus — originating from what Chinese officials believe was an exotic food market in Wuhan — has also sparked an economic downturn that begins in China but has since made its way to Kootenai County, Idaho. Now, from shipping to handling to simple concern for their employees, some local companies are taking extra steps and facing new challenges as they navigate these uncertain times.
“There’s no doubt [the coronavirus is] having an impact,” Coeur d’Alene’s Danny Albert told The Press. “Most definitely.” Albert runs a custom racing shop on Hayden Avenue in Hayden. Albert, who hails from Laguna Beach, Calif., said he has been in the racing game for more than 20 years. He said he’s already seen how the disruption in shipping along Asia’s shores have now impacted his passion.
“Usually,” he reported, “if you order something overnight from China, you should expect it in two days. But now, I’ve got my people telling me it’s going to be a week. Maybe 10 days.”
Nations across Asia have sealed off their docks against vessels originating from Chinese ports. American ports along the Pacific from Tacoma to San Diego are taking extra precautions with goods received from China. Seven of the 10 historically-busiest shipping ports in the world are in China.
For some businesses along Hayden Avenue, the first economic symptoms have already emerged. It’s a problem, Albert said, that requires patience. His “people,” he explained, are third-party distributors from Las Vegas who serve as middlemen to get the parts he and his customers need. It’s a common path to take for companies focused on building custom vehicles, from cars to boats to motor homes to four-wheelers.
“It’s a tough time over there right now,” Albert said. “And right now, everybody’s pretty understanding. They’re proactive with us. They’re telling us up-front. Nobody’s taking our orders and then saying, ‘Hey, we can’t [fulfill] it.’ They’re letting us know up-front: ‘Hey, this could be longer than a week to 10 days.’”
Amy Bloem of Stan-Craft Boats — just a block away from Albert on nearby Dakota Avenue — said the iconic boat manufacturer’s supply lines haven’t yet been disrupted, but she admitted her company is having trouble keeping a surplus of a hot item in the era of pandemic fears. “We’ve noticed that we can’t keep as many respiratory masks,” Bloem said. “We have enough right now, but we like to keep a good supply on hand, and that’s been a challenge.” Bloem said Stan-Craft keeps theirs for their workers, who utilize the masks to keep airborne particles out of their lungs during the boat-building process. Bloem said the company has enough masks to continue doing business, but even the thought of running out gives her pause. “It’s something we’re always used to having plenty of,” she said.
Colby Shields runs INW Performance, a Hayden Avenue company that focuses on automotive performance. He said he hasn’t seen a disruption yet in his supply line, but the risk coronavirus exposes to him and his employees is always at the forefront of his mind. “I get packages from all over Asia,” he said. “I get them from Japan, Russia, Korea, everywhere. I make sure to disinfect every package I receive.” The parts, Shields said, isn’t the only interaction that gives him pause.
“I got some of my customers in China right now,” he said, tapping his finger on his desk. “Right this minute. They’re going to come back and ask, ‘Hey, do you have my car ready?’ And I’ll have it ready, but what am I supposed to tell them? ‘Uh, yeah, but I need to wait a couple weeks before you come by, because I don’t want you getting anybody here sick.’ That’s no way to do business.”
Danny Albert works from his Hayden shop on a custom V-Twin. He said he’s been proactive communicating with distributors, who have told him the coronavirus outbreak that has placed a stranglehold on Asian ports has already delayed his shipments by more than a week. “We just gotta be patient,” he said.
