Audio visual reseller loses up to $50K in Sydney explosion

av media systems sells designs and services high-end digital signage products. As a result of the blast, it is now two weeks behind in the delivery of goods, installation of products and services, claimed Richards.

“Right now we are occupying a little bit of office space in the downstairs area of the same building that was damaged. However there are no phone lines and no Internet access,” he said.

Although the company’s stock is located in the warehouses of its Melbourne headquarters, Richards said it’s the little things that you would normally take for granted that are now gone.

“Now I have to look at whether or not I buy a photocopy/fax machine or wait for the insurance money to come through. This blast has caused a lot of havoc. I had planned to double the number of staff this year. Now I am thinking about basic things like getting the electricity and phone lines hooked up for the new office,” he said.

Richards estimates the loss to be around $50,000. That includes loss of customers, equipment and the setting up of a new premise.

“Around 90 percent of my customers have understood the situation. But 10 percent have just been unreasonable. I had one guy call me up the day after the explosion wanting to know where his projector was. I had to literally run up to his office in Broadway, Sydney and explain to him what happened,” he said. “He then asked me if the projector would turn up the next day. Even though I have explained the situation, I don’t think head office comprehends the damage that occurred because of this explosion.”

Richards said it wasn’t only the business that suffered. He had also almost lost his life.

“I finished up in the office at 11pm and then went upstairs to my apartment. At around 12:30pm I woke up nauseous and had a burning throat. The doctor told me if it had been a minute longer I would have died of gas inhalation,” he said.

Despite the difficulties of the past couple of weeks, Richards is optimistic
he will be able to get the business back on its feet in the next six to eight months.