Spain is currently facing one of the most devastating environmental catastrophes in recent times. The DANA (isolated high-altitude depression) that struck in the early hours of Tuesday, October 29, has caused numerous human casualties and immeasurable material destruction. At Marketing4eCommerce, we wish to extend our full support to all those affected, especially those who have experienced personal losses.
Within our industry, many companies have also suffered various losses and operational challenges due to the DANA. To understand their situation, we have reached out to some of these businesses.
In the case of Clotsy Brand, the vegan clothing store, they have had to pause operations, as Ángela Gómez, Co-founder and Creative Director, explained to us. “Regarding shipments, store restocking, and other aspects, everything has been put on hold, and we will not be able to resume normal operations until next week. Transport agencies are advising us not to make shipments until Monday as a precaution. Fortunately, our logistics center is located in Guadalajara and has not been affected. However, everything related to the physical store has been impacted.”
To understad what is happening in Spain right now, the influencer Emma Geikie, explains the situation in her TikTok account in English.
@emmageikie_a message to whoever wants to listen ❤️🩹♬ sonido original – Emma Geikie
All logistics operations have been significantly affected due to road closures, warehouse inaccessibility, and challenges related to on-site work. FENADISMER, the Spanish National Federation of Transport Associations, reported that the closure of main communication routes connecting the Valencian Community with Madrid, as well as the Mediterranean corridor, has halted operations for more than 22,000 transport drivers—approximately 8,000 on the Valencia-Madrid route and another 14,000 on the Mediterranean route.
Ángela Baus, CEO of Cajeando, shared that 11 of their trucks were stranded on the roads due to the DANA’s impact. Currently, 3 of those trucks remain stopped, while the others have been able to make progress via alternative routes given the condition of the roads. “At the company level, we are doing well. Some of our clients have been affected, and we had to halt their shipments because they cannot access their facilities. Our drivers are also stranded.”
“We supply cardboard, and right now, we cannot estimate how much of our merchandise might have been lost—whether it was in transit or at the bases of our logistics operators in the Valencia area. We have no way of knowing the status of anything that was pending distribution or last-mile delivery. If it is cardboard, it is obviously unsalvageable, but these are material losses, and, honestly, they are not the priority at this moment.
We know that GLS’s Valencia branch is flooded, so if any of our stock was there, it is likely ruined. However, the other delivery services and agencies we work with have not reported any significant damage to their facilities.
The boxes our clients use may not seem essential, but for some customers, they truly are. For instance, clients distributing food depend on them to supply supermarkets. It is important to us that they receive what they need, and we hope everyone recovers as soon as possible.”
Héctor Nebot, CEO of Zapato Feroz, shared, “The impact is most visible in logistics, which is heavily disrupted across the entire area affected by the DANA—both in terms of road networks and some logistics hubs in the Valencia-Riba-roja area. We have continued working, telecommuting when necessary… and those of us closer to Ferozland were able to make a quick visit today. In terms of clients, orders, and visits… we have not analyzed anything yet. We understand that there are other priorities right now, at least in our area.” Additionally, Zapato Feroz is preparing supplies to donate to those affected.
Álvaro Llorens, Director of eCommerce at the Valencia-based Atmósfera Sport, described the situation as “truly very difficult, an unprecedented event.” Despite the severe disruption to their usual operations, their facilities in southern Valencia have fortunately not been affected.
“Right now, we are intensely focused on providing human support, both to our central teams and to the stores and their families. There are neighboring areas where security forces have not yet been able to enter, so it is likely that the death toll will rise.
Regarding operations, we have activated our crisis management team and are planning day by day. It is impossible to plan beyond 6-7 hours, given the devastation to telecommunications and infrastructure. We have minimized our activations, strengthened customer service departments, and, despite the situation, we remain hopeful and committed to gradually restoring service with a human focus.”
César Villarreal, CEO and founder of Totenart—a small Valencia-based business selling fine art supplies—has seen his business devastated by the effects of last week’s DANA. Through two videos posted on Totenart’s Instagram profile, César has shared the harsh reality of his situation, asking for community support to keep the business afloat.
In an initial video posted last Saturday, César provided an early assessment of the damage caused by the flooding in his warehouse, where water levels reached up to one and a half meters. He initially believed that some of the affected materials might be salvaged and suggested selling these items at significant discounts: “There are materials that we believe can still be used, and our idea is to offer them to you at a discount… Anyone interested can email us. We haven’t prepared a list yet. Just send an email to Hola@totenart.com, and we’ll send you a list.”
However, as the days passed, the true extent of the damage became clearer, far exceeding initial expectations. In a new video, César candidly described the worsening situation and openly appealed for help to save the business. To facilitate this support, Totenart has launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe, which, as of early Monday, had already raised close to €7,000.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram Una publicación compartida de totenart.com | Bellas Artes y Manualidades (@totenart)
Una publicación compartida de totenart.com | Bellas Artes y Manualidades (@totenart)
Totenart began its journey in the art world 25 years ago with the opening of a physical store in Valencia, its hometown, aiming to provide specialized materials to local printmaking artists. Alongside its online store, Totenart has succeeded in building a solid reputation as a go-to resource in the fields of art and fine arts.
Expressions of solidarity and support for those impacted have poured in from across Spain. In the business sphere, the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV) has set up a form to efficiently organize assistance, allowing businesses to register the type of support they are willing to offer, along with any other relevant information.
For financial contributions, the Spanish Confederation of Commerce (CEC), in collaboration with CEOE and the CEOE Foundation, has activated the following bank account to channel donations: IBAN ES58 0030 1031 5000 1223 1271, with the reference “Aid for DANA Victims.”
Additionally, Jordi Ordóñez informs us that the Red Cross has set up a donation system through Amazon to assist those affected by the DANA.
Photo: Flux Schnell
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Δ