The NZ market is being flooded with new “suppliers” of PPE (gloves, mask and clothing), with these businesses and
individuals taking advantage of the pandemic and in many cases hoping to make a quick profit, often at the expense of
those who are desperately in need of products. They can have no previous supply history or experience in sourcing, and
have no knowledge of their products, their quality, or where they are coming from, or indeed if they will even arrive.
Deposits of 50% and more are demanded.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exponentially grown the demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is now far
surpassing supply and resulting in limited stock availability for key industries and frontline workers. Some industries
are so desperate for PPE they are sourcing from unknown suppliers without first conducting product or supplier due
diligence and the products received, haven’t always been what was paid for.
Authorities have begun seizing counterfeit and faulty Chinese-made face masks and other protective clothing, while
governments have rejected defective Chinese-made equipment designed to combat the coronavirus. These are real problems
for frontline workers reliant on these products to prevent contracting Covid-19.
Sourcing and supplying PPE isn’t simple and takes years of experience, working with suppliers, to establish good
relationships and receive products of consistent and reliable quality. Steve Ardagh, CEO of glove and clothing
specialist supplier Eagle Protect, commented, “establishing good supplier relationships is paramount in reliable sourcing of quality gloves and clothing. Almost anyone
can buy a container of products at a fairly reasonable price, but in some cases are proving to be faulty or reject
products. These are demanding times, and for everyone’s safety, it is important to know these vital PPE items are made
to specifications and will actually work to protect the wearer.”