something needs fixing and it’s no longer technically our responsibility, we’ll still resolve the issue.” This loyalty extends both ways. Because the company pays its bills on time and treats its suppliers well, Blue Ribbon often gets priority access to materials—a crucial advantage during recent supply chain disruptions. “When frames and trusses were taking three months, we were getting them in a month and a half. That’s thanks to those relationships.” THE CHALLENGE OF RISING COSTS Still, the construction industry hasn’t been without its challenges, particularly in recent years. The combination of global supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and escalating material costs has created a volatile environment for builders across the country. “Margins slipped,” Phil admits. “It hit our clients hard. But we ordered ahead, and our relationships helped us through. We didn’t get burned like some others did.” Phil credits much of their resilience to planning and deeply rooted relationships with trusted suppliers. “We had a system in place that meant we were ordering materials well in advance, even before the disruptions hit,” he explains. “Because we’ve been working with the same suppliers for years and we always pay on time, they looked after us. We were able to avoid major delays that set many other builders back by months.” 28 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 05
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