Life on the frontline:
#5 in a series of 6
An Italian manufacturer’s
perspective -
Basso Bikes, Italy
Words: Joshua Riddle
Photography: Matt Grayson
Basso Bikes: from deep within the industrial heartland of Northern Italy.
The situation here in Italy has been tough. It has been complicated as we were perhaps the first country in the EU to experience the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been over two months under a complete shut-down after gradually ramping up measures. In the early stages we were experiencing somewhat of a competitive advantage as long as we could keep our factory operating. By being one of the very few companies that produces, paints and builds their frames in-house our supply chains were not affected in the least (as far as framesets go) during the earlier stages. Other brands who rely completely on outsourced goods from factories in the Far East were hurt as merchandise could not be produced or shipped. However, the problem steadily progressed and we went from partial shut down to a complete lockdown in Italy at which point we were still able to ship orders, but only of merchandise that had already been produced. (Factory workers for the production site could not get into work due to the shut down). We took measures to ensure the most efficient way to run the company while guaranteeing the utmost safety for all parties involved. Nearly everyone was working from home apart from a skeleton crew that could maintain complete isolation from one another while at work.
As of this past week a new decree has allowed us to go back to work on site and also for the opening of bike shops across the country. This also coincides with the ability to ride outside alone, not in groups. We are back at work and extremely busy. However, the work environment is quite different. We are spaced apart a great deal and the workday is carried out with a mask on. Hand sanitiser is never more than a meter away and lunchtime is no longer a communal event but rather done in isolation. It’s all a process I suppose and this won’t be permanent. However, we are happy to comply if it means that its keeping us, our employees and our partners safer.
After this lockdown period we have had plenty of time to reflect on the situation in general. We have developed a new product and campaign around it. Not only the Overcome campaign we spoke about in the past weeks
https://www.bassobikes.com/landing-page/overcome.html
but now also the REFLECTION COLLECTION