Heading into what would likely be considered its busy season, a Midland company has found an innovative way to keep occupied these days.
Templeton Windows & Doors is busy nowadays installing plexiglass shields for Sobey’s stores throughout the region by creating a needed social barrier between customers and clerks at Foodland outlets in Midland, Penetanguishene, Victoria Harbour, Coldwater and locations further afield.
“We’ve also done doctor’s offices,” said Dave Templeton Sr., noting they also completed installations at other area businesses, government operations and around Georgian Bay General Hospital’s volunteer desk.
“We put a note on our Facebook page that we had done these and the next thing we know Sobeys is calling."
Nova Scotia-based Empire Co. Ltd., which owns and operates the retail banners Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland and FreshCo, announced last week that it would be installing plexiglass shields at the checkout counters to better protect their employees and customers.
“We tested plexiglass cashier shields as yet another safeguard to protect our teammates and customers from this terrible coronavirus,” wrote Michael Medline president and CEO of Empire Co Ltd., in a letter to customers released via Twitter.
“We’ve looked across the world at best practices and these shields stand out as a strong safety precaution,” Medline continued. “We will work around the clock to get them into our stores. They will not be in every store immediately, but we’ll install them as quickly as we can.”
Empire Co. Ltd. operates more than 1,500 owned or franchised stores across all 10 provinces, as well as more than 350 retail fuel locations.
PC Optimum stores, which include the Loblaws chains, also announced they would be installing plexiglass shields for the checkout counters.
But the sudden need for plexiglass or “sneeze” shields has led to issues getting the product, according to Templeton.
“Suppliers had hundreds and hundreds of sheets last week, but by Monday there was nothing. It’s pretty crazy out there. We’re having issues too; we can’t get anymore masks.”
And while the company is employing four staff versus its regular 13-person contingent to complete the projects, Templeton said it’s welcoming the work since some projects have been put on hold until COVID-19 is contained.
“We have a glass and mirror shop, but this (virus) is a completely different animal,” he said. “We’ve had cancelations across the board for windows and doors.”
Templeton said the company is also taking a number of precautions to ensure the health and well-being of its employees, customers and the community.
That includes closing its showroom to walk-in traffic until further notice and sanitizing everything in the showroom, office and shop areas. It’s also asking customers who currently have installations booked to delay the procedure if anyone in the residence has any flu-like symptoms and closely monitoring its own employees for flu symptoms.
