A commentary by the general manager of Van Isle Windows Ltd., in Victoria. A reboot of the Times Colonist’s series on the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses. Six months after a lockdown and re-opening, business people share the experiences and their views on moving forward.
Strict adherence to pandemic protocols, a complete buy-in from our staff on safety and the support of customers buying local have allowed Van Isle Windows to go from a complete shutdown to nearly full capacity in just over six months.
We realize we are not untouchable and things could change, so we will continue to go about our business using our COVID-19 safe-working protocols in our manufacturing plant, showroom and with our crews who visit our customers’ homes for installations.
As we move into the fall and winter, we are ensuring we have all the personal protective equipment in place to get us over the next potential wave. Our showrooms are open, but we will continue to limit the number of people in them at one time, and now request all customers and visitors to wear a mask (and will provide one as needed).
Our factory workers will continue to wear all their mandated PPE and social distance, and our installation crews will work with homeowners, adhering to our safety protocols when in their homes.
Van Isle Windows had no choice but to temporarily cease operations on March 17. It was the right decision, and necessary in order to protect our customers, our employees and their families and our communities amid all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.
From the first day we shut down until our re-opening on April 14, we developed strict and rigid return to work protocols. Procuring all of personal protection equipment was the singular biggest challenge as it was in high demand and very difficult to purchase due to the global outbreak.
When we returned to work in mid April, life as everyone knew it had changed significantly. No more coffee stations or lunchrooms or work lockers (places we could not be sure we could maintain all the safety protocols).
There were self assessments, face shields, masks, temperature checks, and equipment and vehicle, tool and hand sanitizing throughout the day. These have all become part of our daily routines.
I am extremely proud of how all of our employees have embraced these changes, adapted and accepted this as our new normal, as it has allowed Van Isle Windows to continue to manufacture and provide installation services to our customers during this pandemic.
We didn’t know what to expect upon our return, but we did it in stages, with skeleton crews and approached our re-start safely and cautiously.
Fast forward to today, we are back, operating to almost full capacity. Our administration and sales teams along with our production, shipping and installation employees are busier than they expected to be. This is all because our customers and communities trusted our safe approach to COVID-19, combined with their commitment to supporting local, and keeping the local economy going.
We have been extremely fortunate compared to other industries that have either had to close or reduce operations.
Thanks to our customers, our employees are working and getting a paycheque. Because of our ability to continue to manufacture and provide installation services, we are all also able to support some of our local businesses. From recycling services, to lumber yards and industry related supply stores to contractors buying our windows and building homes, we are all collectively supporting local and providing an additional boost to our economy.
We are very grateful to our customers and thank them for supporting us during these very difficult times.
We are in this together, and encourage everyone to support and shop local. These are challenging times, and we need to ensure that businesses, who employ our friends, family and neighbours, survive!
Stay safe everyone.
How is your business doing? Let our readers know with a personal commentary. Send a submission of about 500 words for consideration to [email protected]
