The first few days
The initial period where the Practitioner’s staff are trying to contact and negotiate with customers and suppliers is usually very hectic and at best may be described as organised chaos. For example there may be a period of time where:
Urgent supplies cannot be obtained;
There are stalemates with customers or customers take their custom elsewhere;
Goods cannot be sent to customers as the Practitioner’s staff are awaiting formal agreements;
Customer and/or supplier relationships developed over a lengthy time appear to be placed in jeopardy;
The practitioner’s staff cannot confirm whether the wages of the employees can be paid; or
Suppliers or lease companies turn up on site ‘to remove their goods’.
This period may last for anything between a few hours and several weeks depending upon the circumstances of the case.
Whilst this is often a very stressful time for all concerned, it should improve within a relatively short period of time.
The Practitioner will put into place systems for ordering goods, selling to customers and reporting. These systems may duplicate those in operation but often will be necessary despite this.
