Everybody will be well aware of the current virus breakout across the world and we hope you're all keeping yourselves as safe as possible. With a lot of questions circulating we thought it would be worth putting out a bit of information and hopefully ease a few worries that we've seen online.
Pendraken and our workplace
Firstly, Pendraken is open and there are currently no plans to temporarily close our doors. We are fortunate to have several members of staff working in different parts of our business, so if anyone were to become ill then we have other people who can pick up the slack and keep things ticking over. Also, each of our staff members work independently in their own workstations, so we are able to keep safe distances (more than 2 metres) between people at all times. We will be introducing some further distancing measures this coming week to make sure that we're keeping any potential risks to a minimum.
If need be, we can also look at working opposing shifts and there are some jobs that can be done from home without the need to be in our premises.
We are regularly receiving advice from the government as this situation progresses and we'll make further adjustments as and when necessary.
Orders and postage
The Royal Mail have today advised that there is no risk of the virus being transmitted through the post: https://www.royalmail.com/coronavirus They are keeping postal services running and currently there should not be any delays to your packages. This may differ depending on where you are in the world but for now you are still able to place orders and receive them safely.
Events and shows
Many of you will have seen some smaller events cancelling this past week and more are likely to come. As of 17th March, Salute has been cancelled and with Scotland banning gatherings over 500 people, there's a good chance that Carronade in Falkirk will be cancelled. We'll have to see how things develop over the coming weeks but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the June events lost as well.
We're hoping that if things are under control by May/June then we'll be back on the show circuit in time for Claymore in August, but we'll keep everyone notified as things move along.
Finally, this whole situation is completely unprecedented and all we can do is listen to the experts and adapt as best we can to each stage of the process. The loss of public events and the potential downturn in sales is going to be a tough time period for lots of businesses (not just wargaming) and we all need to do the best we can to manage ourselves through it. If you are in the position to do so, please continue to support your wargames companies and the hobby in general. If you've had to take time away from work then maybe make some progress on the lead mountain, give solo gaming a try or join in some online communities. The Pendraken Forum will always be open and everybody is welcome!
And most importantly, keep yourselves safe! Don't take any unnecessary risks and we'll see you all online for the next few months.
UPDATE - Sun 22nd March
A lot of small businesses are going to find it difficult over the coming months, especially with the loss of shows, and it's important to keep money circulating in our hobby as best we can. We've seen a lot of people helping their favourite traders by placing orders and it's only fair that we do our part as well. So, this week we will be:
- Putting £1500 into ranges of new buildings from Ironclad Miniatures, covering Peninsular Napoleonics, WWII Normandy & Indian Mutiny.
- Investing £2000 into bringing the 6mm Raiden aircraft ranges over from the United States.
- Commissioning two new painting services to help us work through the backlog of missing website photos.
- Doubling our sculptor budgets to expand our Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Modern figure ranges quicker.
We will also continue to pay all of our staff members if they need to take any time off due to Coronavirus / Covid-19.
There are interesting times ahead, but if we help each other out we'll all get through this and back to normality. Keep yourselves safe and support the hobby where you can!
UPDATE - Tues 24th March
Most of you will have seen that the UK government introduced a nationwide lockdown last night, ordering people to stay indoors and only leave the house for work, food, exercise or medical needs. The guidance allows us to continue travelling to a place of work, so we will continue to process orders for as long as we are allowed to.
However, we are going to increase our safety measures and start working opposing shifts, from 7am - midnight in various blocks. This will allow us to only have a maximum of 2 staff onsite at any one time (plus Leon in the office) and means that we can isolate people much better. We will continue this until we receive further guidance from the government.
As far as we are aware, the postal services are continuing to run as normal and your parcels should arrive safely in the usual timeframes. Please be aware though that there may be delays in different countries depending on the capacity of the postal services in your area. Please allow a little longer once your parcel has been posted, you will definitely receive your goodies!
The government guidance is here if anyone fancies a read: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874738/Full_guidance_on_staying_at_home_and_away_from_others.pdf
Thanks Leon. I suspect there is an over-reaction on the part of some people. I advise anyone who didn't catch it to listen to Broadcasting House on iplayer as soon as possible, lots of good advice. I don't intend to change what I'm doing, no bug is going to intimidate me...
With you all the way, Ian. :)
Cheers - Phil
Leon, thanks for that. As I'm in the 'at-risk' age group, I am 'intimidated' by it and have already started to change what I do. Casual and dismissive attitudes are unhelpful at best and are, potentially, dangerous at worst. So long as I can get my wargaming needs and red wine on-line, self-isolation will not be so bad :D
Just to update everyone, Salute has just been cancelled and will be back in 2021 instead.
Unless the rumours of a new strain of anthropophagous super-hamsters prove to be true, of course.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 18 March 2020, 01:04:20 AM
Unless the rumours of a new strain of anthropophagous super-hamsters prove to be true, of course.
I, for one, welcome our new rodentine overlords!
Quote from: FierceKitty on 18 March 2020, 01:04:20 AM
Unless the rumours of a new strain of anthropophagous super-hamsters prove to be true, of course.
Alexander.......If you're going to use words that I have to look up, can you make them shorter, so I don't have to write them down before I google them. :P
(Better put in for that shot-gun licence, if
that rumour turns out to be true. ;)......Eeeugh !)
Cheers - Phil ;)
Quote from: Techno on 18 March 2020, 07:47:36 AM
Alexander.......If you're going to use words that I have to look up, can you make them shorter, so I don't have to write them down before I google them. :P
(Better put in for that shot-gun licence, if that rumour turns out to be true. ;)......Eeeugh !)
Cheers - Phil ;)
You can copy and paste words into Google Phil, click and drag over it or double click (or press and hold on a tablet and it'll pop up options) then Ctrl+C or right click> copy and ctrl+p or right click > paste into google.
Will save that trigger finger from RSI and keep it fit for its true purpose, shootin' dem pesky overgrown vermin!
;D ;D ;D
I really should have thought of that ! X_X
Thanks, M. :)
Cheers - Phil
I thought you knew what a hamster was!
Yes.....It's the word for a pig that's been taking performance enhancing drugs.....(The shortened version, anyway.)
Cheers - Phil. ;)
Well I thought the ruling rodents were white mice !
Quote from: FierceKitty on 18 March 2020, 01:04:20 AM
Unless the rumours of a new strain of anthropophagous super-hamsters prove to be true, of course.
Are these thought to have flight capabilities? That would be more frighting then I could deal with.
Quote from: ianrs54 on 18 March 2020, 02:15:05 PM
Well I thought the ruling rodents were white mice !
Submit before the mighty Skaven corrupting warswarm!!
Well I manage the Skaven Foundation bloodbowl team ! :'(
And the answer to all our problems is 42, but I have no idea what the question is :d
UPDATE:
A lot of small businesses are going to find it difficult over the coming months, especially with the loss of shows, and it's important to keep money circulating in our hobby as best we can. We've seen a lot of people helping their favourite traders by placing orders and it's only fair that we do our part as well. So, this week we will be:
- Putting £1500 into ranges of new buildings from Ironclad Miniatures, covering Peninsular Napoleonics, WWII Normandy & Indian Mutiny.
- Investing £2000 into bringing the 6mm Raiden aircraft ranges over from the United States.
- Commissioning two new painting services to help us work through the backlog of missing website photos.
- Doubling our sculptor budgets to expand our Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Modern figure ranges quicker.
We will also continue to pay all of our staff members if they need to take any time off due to Coronavirus / Covid-19.
There are interesting times ahead, but if we help each other out we'll all get through this and back to normality. Keep yourselves safe and support the hobby where you can!
Well done, and that is very honourable of you.
As one of those who will be expected to work through this I am planning to place some additional orders even if I may never paint them
Good to hear all and hope things continue to work out for you as best they can in the circumstances. Just placed a small order myself.
Well done Pendraken =D> =D> =D>
As I mentioned on another thread at the rate I'm painting my Punic War figures I need to start thinking about my next project and ordering it from Pendraken
Thanks for the reply, as long as we don't get shutdown by the government, I think we'll be OK. I've put a few extra measures in place today to make sure that the unit and staff are all safe, so they're sorted. For the first time in our history we'd been building a safety net in the bank account, so we've ringfenced enough for about a month's worth of bills if something serious happens. And there's enough sculpts in the pipeline to keep the new releases coming!
Better get my order in today...
PANIC ORDER sent!
;D
Trying times for us all, well done pendraken in supporting our community
Take care
Andy
Quote from: Leon on 23 March 2020, 02:52:29 AM
Thanks for the reply, as long as we don't get shutdown by the government, I think we'll be OK.
Will the latest governmental pronouncements result in a shutdown?
Quote from: hammurabi70 on 23 March 2020, 11:32:38 PM
Will the latest governmental pronouncements result in a shutdown?
From the guidance we've seen we're still allowed to travel to a place of work, as the work can't be done from home (some can but obviously casting, packaging, etc needs to be on site). We're going to move to opposing shifts though, working 7am - midnight in various blocks, to keep a max of 2 staff onsite at a time (plus me in the office).
The government guidance is here if anyone fancies a read: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874738/Full_guidance_on_staying_at_home_and_away_from_others.pdf
I put I a small base order yesterday. I realise posting may be tricky. If you have to wait to fulfil it, don't worry, I don't need the money back.
Would it be helpful for cash flow if people put orders in even if it turns out they have to wait months?
Quote from: Last Hussar on 24 March 2020, 12:05:40 AM
I put I a small base order yesterday. I realise posting may be tricky. If you have to wait to fulfil it, don't worry, I don't need the money back.
Would it be helpful for cash flow if people put orders in even if it turns out they have to wait months?
We're OK cashflow wise, there's a bit of a buffer in the account which can get us through at least a month. I can't see the lockdown going on much longer than that, and we're still able to post things out currently. I'll check with our postie when he comes to collect tomorrow.
Quote from: Leon on 23 March 2020, 11:54:32 PM
From the guidance we've seen we're still allowed to travel to a place of work, as the work can't be done from home (some can but obviously casting, packaging, etc needs to be on site). We're going to move to opposing shifts though, working 7am - midnight in various blocks, to keep a max of 2 staff onsite at a time (plus me in the office).
The government guidance is here if anyone fancies a read: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874738/Full_guidance_on_staying_at_home_and_away_from_others.pdf
Again very sensible steps being taken by Pendraken
Quote from: Leon on 24 March 2020, 12:13:07 AMI'll check with our postie when he comes to collect tomorrow.
What was the outcome?
Quote from: hammurabi70 on 25 March 2020, 11:35:09 PM
What was the outcome?
Postie collections are continuing for the foreseeable, no plans to reduce or stop them at all. He also said that all post offices will be remaining open, although some may be on reduced opening hours.
Quote from: Leon on 23 March 2020, 02:52:29 AM
Thanks for the reply, as long as we don't get shutdown by the government, I think we'll be OK. I've put a few extra measures in place today to make sure that the unit and staff are all safe, so they're sorted. For the first time in our history we'd been building a safety net in the bank account, so we've ringfenced enough for about a month's worth of bills if something serious happens. And there's enough sculpts in the pipeline to keep the new releases coming!
There is another factor to the
Keep Pendraken Open argument. The role of your products in keeping up the morale and good mental health of a vulnerable demographic (your regular mail order customers and potential customers). I am a pensioner with UHI asthma. (Underlying health issues). I would not be priority in triage for a ventilator. I will die a slow and lonely death if I connect with the virus.
That little package from Pendraken will keep me sane in isolation . This forum will keep me in the loop. I am happy to provide you Leon with such written testimony.
How many of you feel the same way?
With me in semi-retirement and thus more at home, Lee says she dreads the day I run out of armies to keep me busy. Invaluable therapy.
The key factor in the "balance of risk" is how Pendraken staff commute to work. If it is by public transport then its "game over".
They will have to stay at home.
If its by private means however, and they travel alone or with fellow family members, then it is in accordance with PH England's current guidelines - although this may change.
Well, warlord games already shut down, and gw has shut down as well.
But i'm imagining these are larger companies (staff wise) so i guess that's kind of logical.
GW shuts down and Pendraken is still slaving away....easy to see where the Dunkirk spirit went to.
Like I said, its comes down to two factors:
1. How the staff commute to work.
2. If workspace conforms to PH England guidelines.
I had a conversion with "the Pendraken boss" this morning. She is a canny lass and informs me that both 1 and 2 are fully met.
Leon is on the night shift. :)
This emergency will drag on until the summer. Already there is concern about domestic violence, suicides and a plethora of mental health issues. When we deal with the pressing physical health issues - the mental wellbeing will become a priority.
Quote from: Sunray on 26 March 2020, 10:51:07 AM
Leon is on the night shift. :)
When isn't he ?....
That's the only
very minor b*gger in doing stuff for 'Sir'... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
He and I are awake at completely different times of the day.....
The last few times, I've ended up talking to M'Lady.....She frightens me.* :-SS :-SS :-SS
Cheers - Phil....(* If you believe that...You'll believe anything. ;))
Well she terrifies me !! ;D :o
Quote from: Techno on 26 March 2020, 11:41:11 AM
The last few times, I've ended up talking to M'Lady.....She frightens me.* :-SS :-SS :-SS
She terrifies me too. Get on her wrong side and your orders will be treated with the same contempt of something nasty on the sole of her shoe :)
Quote from: FierceKitty on 26 March 2020, 10:37:08 AM
GW shuts down and Pendraken is still slaving away....easy to see where the Dunkirk spirit went to.
Well, that's a bit of an unfair comparison and Dunkirk spirit is exactly what's going to prolong this disaster!
GW and Warlord closing down is corporate responsibility; Pendraken staying open with reasonable measures put in place, likewise :-bd
Huzzah, for Leon. :-bd
Cheers - Phil
Just been to post office to drop some orders off, they now got new signs up saying hours will be restricted to 10am-3pm from Monday and "essential business only". Apparently ebay sales and MeG sets are essential business, so that's fine.
Mark
In conversation with a friend last night I realised that in the space of a few weeks I have moved from being an idle, mildly agoraphobic, slob to being a responsible citizen :)
Quote from: Sunray on 26 March 2020, 10:51:07 AM
1. How the staff commute to work.
2. If workspace conforms to PH England guidelines.
Yep, as Adele said this morning all of the staff come to work in their own cars, and we've completely segregated the workplace so that there's no contact. The casting stations are about 3m apart, the packaging team are 6m away from everyone else, I'm in my office, etc.
Quote from: Techno on 26 March 2020, 11:41:11 AM
She frightens me.* :-SS :-SS :-SS
Quote from: ianrs54 on 26 March 2020, 12:14:43 PM
Well she terrifies me !! ;D :o
Quote from: Orcs on 26 March 2020, 12:32:19 PM
She terrifies me too.
And me!
Quote from: Techno on 26 March 2020, 02:39:07 PM
Huzzah, for Leon. :-bd
Yay, huzzah for me! Wait.. what did I do? Was it good?!
Quote from: Leon on 26 March 2020, 03:34:34 PM
The casting stations are about 3m apart, the packaging team are 6m away from everyone else, I'm in my office, etc.
Yay, huzzah for me! Wait.. what did I do? Was it good?!
So....As I'm the best part of 300 miles away from you..(
Simply as the crow flies.).....Is
that an acceptable distance ?......
I need to be told....Do I need to put on a face mask when I phone Pendraken Towers ? ;).
Yes, Leon, you 'done good'.....and still
are 'doing good'. :)
Cheers - Phil (Please tell Adele I think she's great...So I don't feel so intimidated the next time I speak to her.) :)
Quote from: Techno on 26 March 2020, 04:04:00 PM
So....As I'm the best part of 300 miles away from you..(Simply as the crow flies.).....Is that an acceptable distance ?......I need to be told....Do I need to put on a face mask when I phone Pendraken Towers ? ;).
Put the phone on speaker at the other end of the room and shout.
It's the only way to be sure....
Damn good thinking, Peter !
I hadn't considered that. ;D
Just had a call from one of the neighbours....'over the road'.... (800 yards/700(?) meters away.)
"Are you and Von OK ?"....Yep, absolutely fine, Sue....."Do you need anything picking up....or any shopping needing doing?"
That was sooooo sweet.....and Sue and her partner aren't really that much younger than me and Von.
But that was a lovely thought. :) :) :)
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: Techno on 26 March 2020, 05:11:23 PM
That was sooooo sweet.....and Sue and her partner aren't really that much younger than me and Von.
So they saw the Parthenon being built, but not the Pyramids? ;D
The situation is bringing out the best and worst in people, and for all the media attention on the negatives, I reckon there's a lot more good folk looking out for each other than bad.
Still plenty of idiots about though. There's always a load of them. :-X
Quote from: mmcv on 26 March 2020, 05:22:12 PM
So they saw the Parthenon being built, but not the Pyramids? ;D
You'll get
such a slap soon. ;)
Quote from: mmcv on 26 March 2020, 05:22:12 PM
Still plenty of idiots about though. There's always a load of them. :-X
I liked the story (on the Beeb's site yesterday (?)....So it must be true. ;))....Of the police trying to beak up a 'barbi', cos there were more folk gathered than 'was right'....
The folk refused....So the boys in blue tipped up the barbi, to put it out... ;D ;D ;D ;D..In Coventry, apparently.
Cheers - Phil :)
Only allowed to have groups of 2 people.....20 is kind of like 2...its got a 2...and 0 and 2 + 0 is 2 (I can do sums!!) so I fink it must be okay right? BBQ Time! Let's get the entire neighbourhood into a confined area, what's the worst that could happen?
A cough? No not me, it's just the smoke from the BBQ...
Quote from: Ithoriel on 26 March 2020, 03:07:12 PM
In conversation with a friend last night I realised that in the space of a few weeks I have moved from being an idle, mildly agoraphobic, slob to being a responsible citizen :)
;D ;D =D>
Quote from: Sunray on 26 March 2020, 12:57:30 AM
There is another factor to the Keep Pendraken Open argument. The role of your products in keeping up the morale and good mental health of a vulnerable demographic (your regular mail order customers and potential customers). I am a pensioner with UHI asthma. (Underlying health issues). I would not be priority in triage for a ventilator. I will die a slow and lonely death if I connect with the virus.
That little package from Pendraken will keep me sane in isolation . This forum will keep me in the loop. I am happy to provide you Leon with such written testimony.
How many of you feel the same way?
Absolutely agree