“We gradually stopped manufacturing at Lemet and retail at Lems in the week of March 13. Many of the Lems stores were closed as a result of the military ordinances (which ordered stores in shopping centers, except for pharmacies, food stores and dry cleaners shut i.e.), as well as to reduce the risk of personnel getting sick,” says Alexandru Rizea, adding that almost all Lemet and Lems staff (about 800 people) was furloughed on April 1.
“In April we reactivated the employment contracts for the production and delivery operations for the 21 stores that reopened. The reopening depends on the restrictions that need to be kept and on the local conditions. We would like to resume manufacturing on May 18 (…)”
The furniture industry is one of the worst hit at this time. Manufacturers like Aramis Invest and Taparo decided to temporarily shut down production, because the stores of their European partners where most of the furniture went closed and, on the other hand, the local manufacturers that have their own stores decided to temporarily suspend operations to prevent employees and customers from getting sick and also due to the lower foot traffic in their stores. Some of the local furniture industry businesses like Mobexpert and Spectral have recently decided to resume operations.
Lems numbers more than 70 stores, the largest of which takes up almost 5,000 square meters and is located in Ploiesti.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)