Here's How Dealers Are Communicating with Customers and Staff About the Coronavirus
Updated: Mar 31, 2020
One of the first ways that building material dealers have responded to the coronavirus pandemic is to tell customers and staff members what the companies are doing and what the recipients of those letters should do as well. If you're thinking of doing the same, here is a sampling of what dealers have published. And please share with me at cwebb@webb-analytics.com. if you have issued your own letter.
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[TW Perry]
March 31 update
To our Valued Customers
Thank you for your continued support. This is a very stressful and anxious time for everyone. We continue to work hard to serve your needs efficiently and safely during this extraordinary public health crisis. It is said that extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary actions. We firmly believe this to be the case, and firmly believe these are indeed extraordinary circumstances.
We have seen the numbers of confirmed Coronavirus cases in all of our markets increase rapidly . This week, all government jurisdictions in the DMV have enhanced their response to the pandemic by issuing “Stay at Home” orders. Although these do not impact our status as “essential” businesses, the order does heighten public awareness of the seriousness of the outbreak. TW Perry fully supports the actions and intentions of our state leaders to protect the public.
This week we are taking further extraordinary measures to protect our team members, you, and the general public. I will need your cooperation and understanding to make these work for all of us. First, we remain committed to jobsite deliveries which significantly limit interaction between our respective teams and allow you to keep on building. Here are the changes we are making to our operation:
1. Window and Door Showrooms are closed. We have closed our door , window, and decking showrooms in our stores. These showrooms generally draw many homeowners to our facilities to look at items for their homes. We do not believe showroom shopping to be an essential function in the current climate. If you need literature, information, or a sample, please contact your TW Perry representative and they will get you what you need.
2. Telework: We have further reduced staff in our facilities. Our Outside Sales, and Inside Sales representatives are now working from home. Please call or email them to get quotes, place orders, or obtain information. They are happy and eager to help you. We are protecting them, and you by eliminating as much personal contact as possible. This becomes more and more critical as the number of cases in our region rise!
3. Full Service Yard: We are moving to a “full service” model for filling orders in our yard and warehouse to further restrict personal contact between our customers and staff. We ask our customers to remain in your vehicle when coming to warehouse and yard areas for pick up. Present your invoice to our Ops team member, and they will pull your material for you. Many customers enjoy picking out their material with our Operations team members. In the past several weeks it has been virtually impossible to maintain safe distancing. We need to make this change for the health and safety of our customers, and team members. We appreciate you cooperation in this matter.
4. Store Capacity: All jurisdictions in our market are following the rule of 10 for gatherings. To that end we will limit the number of customers and staff to 10 people in our facility at any one time. You can help by phoning and emailing in your orders instead of coming to the store.
5. Shop Virtually: We still have many customers visiting our locations multiple times per day to place orders, and pick up material. We appreciate the business. However, we really need you to limit personal contact. Please use phone, email, or text to place your orders or discuss business with your sales representatives. We have asked Sales representatives not to visit jobsites at this time. If you need to show them something please use Skype, or FaceTime to do virtual sales calls with our teams.
6. Order Early: Reducing trips to our facilities is increasing the numbers of deliveries we are making each day. This is fine as delivering phoned in orders is the safest way for us to do business right now. However, to get the additional deliveries pulled and loaded takes more time. We are instituting a 3PM cut off for next day delivery. Please get your orders into your sales person by 3PM so we can get it pulled and processed for you.
7. Deliveries: Protection of our teams also extends to your jobsites. We provided drivers with hand sanitizer to use before and after each stop. We no longer require your signatures upon delivery. Our drivers will keep their smartphones in hand. We also have told our drivers not to enter any occupied residence. We are happy to place weather sensitive materials on the carport, or garage, but we will not enter the residence. This does not apply to new construction.
We are a relationship based business. Many of you are not only our customers, you are our friends. Please help us keep our team and your teams healthy. We continue to monitor and adjust our practices as the situation and government response dictate. Our goal has not changed since this started. We aim to serve and meet your needs while maintaining the health and welfare of all. We also look forward to the crisis being over and we can all return to greeting one another in person!
Stay Safe , Stay Healthy, Stay Spaced, and Stay Strong!
Gary Bowman
President /CEO
TW Perry
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[Builders General]
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[Ritter Lumber]
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[Mid-Cape Home Centers]
MOST RECENT UPDATE: Massachusetts Stay At Home Advisory
In wake of the most recent Executive Order put in place by Governor Charlie Baker, Mid-Cape Home Centers is to remain OPEN and operational under strict guidelines provided by the CDC and Local Governments. Mid-Cape has been deemed an essential business within our local economy and will continue to serve our community.
With that being said, Mid-Cape Home Centers will exhibit no shortage of safety precautions during this time. Effective Wednesday 3/25, a call-in only order service will be put in place to limit the number of customers and employees on the grounds at any given time. This process will allow for minimum contact as well as ample time for proper cleaning to take place.
While we are an essential business, and plan to honor our responsibility to our community by staying open, it is important to note that we are continuing to modify our procedures to most safely serve our staff and customers. Please keep in mind that any and all changes are with your best interest in mind. Regarding our temporary call-in only order system, more information will be given as soon as possible. In the meantime, please contact your nearest Mid-Cape location with any questions or concerns.
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[Parr Lumber]
Latest post
Earlier post
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[HPM Building Supply]
This is HPM's March 24 update
To our community,
As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, please know that HPM remains dedicated to serving you.
HPM will remain open during the State of Hawaii Stay-at-Home order, which is in effect until April 30th, 2020.
As the State continues to take measures to protect health and safety and ensure basic necessities are available, HPM has been deemed as an essential business, which means that all HPM locations remain operational, and all stores are observing normal business hours. We are taking important steps to ensure the safety of our owner-employees and customers:
We are adhering to social distancing protocols to the fullest extent possible and asking all persons to maintain a minimum of six feet of physical separation.
Our Hawaii Island retail stores will be offering a Reserved Shopping Hour to serve seniors (age 60 years and above), their accompanying caregiver or assisting family member, and other high risk and immunocompromised members of our community every Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. starting Thursday, March 26, 2020.
We continue to encourage customers to phone in their orders for will-call pick-up or to schedule a delivery. Customers can now call in an order, remain in their vehicle, and their purchase will be brought to them. Please contact your nearest HPM branch for details and to place your phone order.
As we are navigating through unprecedented times, we will keep you updated if there are changes to any scope of HPM’s operations. Thank you for your patience and consideration. As a community, we are stronger when we work together, just as we have during past natural disasters and other hardships we’ve endured. HPM is proud to continue to serve you and is grateful for the strength and resiliency of our customers, owner-employees and community.
Mahalo and take care of yourself and your ’ohana,
Jason Fujimoto
President and CEO
HPM Building Supply
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[Mans Lumber]
March 24 update
Dear Valued Customers,
In order to abide by the state of Michigan’s mandate Mans Lumber and Millwork will be closed to all walk-in business and will limit any delivery activity to only health and safety deliveries beginning on Tuesday, March 24th.
As outlined by multiple industry organizations, Mans Lumber’s support of the industry needs to be helping to secure the safety of job sites and assisting builders in protecting and finishing up jobs that have been started. The mandate states that no new construction or remodel job should be started during this time period. In order to put our employees, customers and communities first, Mans Lumber and Millwork will be diligent in holding ourselves and customers to this standard.
Mans Lumber will have sales staff available to answer phone calls, Monday thru Friday 8am to 3pm to take orders and start preparing for April 13th and the official start to our building season. You may call each location directly or utilize our Toll Free 1-800-TRY-MANS.
Our Kitchen and Bath Design and Flooring department are working with customers virtually via phone and email to still help design your dream Kitchen and Bath. You may send any new inquires to Kitchen and Bath to get working with a designer today so you won’t have to start at square one on April 13th.
We also still have our estimating department able to do material list takeoffs on new projects coming up. Plans can be sent directly via email to Estimating.
As always, please feel free to utilize our Sales Email or our website Contact Us to send in any sales request to our team.
As everything about this pandemic has changed day by day, please understand that our position is subject to change at any time. We are closely monitoring the situation and we keep the health and safety of our employees and customers as our #1 concern.
Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates to our status.
We wish everyone health, safety and understanding during these uncertain times.
Mans Lumber and Millwork
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[SRS Distribution]
March 25 announcement
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[Shepley Forest Products]
Shepley has sent about a letter to its customers virtually every day
Shepley Status Update Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Shepley Sales Staff for all of our locations are available to serve you via phone or email. Click here to contact your Sales Team directly. Our hours of operations have not changed since 3/24/20, when we announced Saturday AM closures until further notice to help reduce social contact and keep customers and employees safer. Hyannis OPEN for pickups, operational, and making deliveries 7AM to 5PM Monday-Friday Closed on Saturdays until further notice. 508-862-6200 Wellfleet OPEN for pickups, operational, and making deliveries 7AM to 5PM Monday-Friday Closed on Saturdays until further notice. 508-349-2280 Nantucket Our sales staff is working remotely and available via phone, 508-325-0400, and email. No deliveries will be made. Customer pick-ups can be arranged by appointment only. The Nantucket Building Moratorium and “stay at home” order are in effect at least until Monday 4/6/20. Yesterday, the Nantucket Board of Health has eased up slightly on the building moratorium but is only allowing only 1 worker per job site and still prohibiting deliveries of building materials and asking residents to use only public transportation. Showcase The Shepley Showcase is currently closed to walk-in visits and appointments.
We still see a very wide range of behavior with regard to the COVID-19 threat. Some people are still not taking social distancing and hygiene as seriously as we all need to. Old habits in today’s situation are very bad habits. We cannot urge you enough to take the Governor’s COVID-19 Guidelines and Procedures and not only read through them carefully but highlight them and post them on your jobsites. It is our job to manage our businesses and jobsites to these standards. It is our responsibility to keep our workers and the general public safe. We must enforce:
Zero Tolerance for employees reporting to work sick. Confirm with staff that they are healthy and symptom and exposure free.
Use proper Personal Protective Equipment.
Absolute 6’ minimum of Social Distancing and no physical contact with others.
Regular cleaning and disinfecting of all sites and equipment, as well as frequent hand washing.
Schedule workers and subs so as to keep people segregated on jobsites.
Use phone or video conferencing for all contact instead of face to face meetings.
Have proper wash stations or disinfectant stations and ensure that supplies are sufficient.
Stay Safe, Stay Focused, Stay Healthy, and Stay Diligent. Thank you,
Tony Shepley Shepley Wood Products
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[Parkes Lumber}
Parkes Lumber remains open for business in order to serve the needs of Lawrence and surrounding counties. In order to protect the health of our employees and our customers we would like to begin offering curbside pick-up so that you do not need to come into the store
Simply call 931-762-3575 or email us at ordering@parkeslumber.com and place your order. Please give us at least 30 minutes notice.
Call us when you arrive. We will have your order pulled and ready when you arrive, then we will deliver those store items to your vehicle and if you need materials from our yard, we will load your vehicle in our normal manner.
We ask that you please stay in your vehicle while being loaded.
Call or e mail your orders and we can deliver those directly to you on the next truck heading your way.
We appreciate your business and your patience as together we experience unusual situations caused by COVID-19.
Jim Parkes
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[Foundation Building Materials]
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[Kodiak Building Partners]
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[PBS Building Supplies]
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[Morrison Terrebonne Lumber]
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[Truitt & White]
This is Truitt & White's second notice in two days. It was sent on March 19
Effective Immediately
We are updating our hours of operation until further notice.
Updated Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri : 7am - 3pm Saturday : Closed
Here is the previous message, sent on March 18
To Our Valued Customers:
As the COVID-19 Coronavirus continues to evolve and change our normal daily routines; Truitt & White Lumber is closely monitoring advice and guidelines from our local, state, and federal agencies. We have put the following measures into place to protect against the virus:
Daily cleaning and disinfecting of hard surfaces that are frequently touched in our Hardware store and Window & Door showroom.
We have installed hand sanitizing stations throughout our facilities.
We have asked our employees to wash their hands frequently, avoid skin to skin contact, stay home if they feel sick, and maintain 6ft social distancing.
We are doing our best to comply with the City of Berkeley's public health order. Truitt & White is being asked to stay open as an essential business and our understanding of the City's order is that our Customers involved with "construction of housing" are listed as essential as well, please refer to Page 4 Paragraph c of the order for more information.
It is our intent to operate business as normal until otherwise instructed. That said, we are discussing alternative options if we are forced to reduce hours of operation, or restrict access to the public. We want to work with our Customers as best we can, as we know many of your construction and building projects must go on. We encourage our Customers to text, email, and/or call in their orders, and we will work hard to accommodate more delivered and pre-built will call orders. A reminder that if you have an account with us you can access pricing and availability of products online via Web Track. Please call us if you need further assistance with this.
We ask that you please take part in helping to stop the spread of the virus as well, by refraining to visit our store if you feel ill. When you do come in, refrain from skin to skin contact, and maintain 6ft social distancing.
Truitt & White Lumber is committed to our Customers during these trying times and are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. We thank you for your business, and we will keep you updated if anything changes.
Thank You,
Management
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[D. Baker & Son]
To Our Customers and Community:
Baker Lumber is striving to take all the necessary precautions to take care of our employees, their families and our community by limiting as much interpersonal contact as possible to control the spread of this virus, known as the COVID-19 or Coronavirus. As always, we will do our best to accommodate our customers needs.
To do our part, beginning Tuesday, March 17, we are implementing these policies until further notice:
Hours of Operation
Our hours of operation will be from 8am - 2pm. Calls after 2pm will be answered and messages will be relayed the following business day.
Sales
Our sales team will only be available via phone or email. Our office and showroom area will be closed to the public.
Pick-ups and Delivery
We will be limiting customer contact to pick-ups and deliveries only. If you’d like to pick up, please drive into the yard and we will greet you at your vehicle. We will be able to fill small orders on demand, but would appreciate a heads up if you know your needs before coming. Large orders will require a one day advance.
We appreciate your willingness to take things a bit slower so that we may fulfill our civic duty and protect the community.
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[Tum A Lum Lumber]
Our stores are open and we want to share some information with you regarding some changes we have made to help make your shopping experience a bit easier during this difficult time. We want to make it as convenient as possible to get you the products you need when you need them.
Beginning today, Wednesday, March 18, we will be offering a Curbside Pickup option for in-store items when shopping with us. This is not mandatory, but simply an add-on service we are providing.
Here’s how it works:
Call your local store with your order: Hood River's phone number is 541.386.1001, The Dalles can be reached at 541.296.5414, and you can call Pendleton at 541.276.6221.
If you do not have an account with us and want to pay by credit card, please be prepared to provide your credit card over the phone. We will also accept a check and cash when you pick up up your order.
We will pull and fulfill your order as requested. If we are out of stock on a particular item, we will offer you a replacement item, as long as we have similar products available. The Curbside Pickup option applies to in-store items only.
If you need yard product, we can help you avoid having to come into our store to order those items by placing your order over the phone. While we will not be able to pull building material items for you with the Curbside Pickup option, we are happy to load your vehicle for you. You just need to drive through the yard to be loaded as normal.
We will call you with any revisions and let you know what the order total is. Please note: We need 2 hours to fulfill your order. It may be ready sooner, but we are asking for a 2 hour window.We will call you once your order is ready for pickup.
When you arrive in our parking lot, please call our store and we will bring your order out to you.
We are here for everyone. Even if you don’t know exactly what you need (maybe you saw a widget your neighbor had and want the same widget but don’t really know what it’s called), we are here to help. We will do our best to work through all orders the best we can.
We will continue to be proactive in providing you the latest information on our efforts to maintain uninterrupted service to you.
The really important part of this email:
Finally, please know how much we appreciate your loyalty to our local lumberyard and hardware store. Our leadership team is in constant communication to ensure that as news develops, we are doing the most we can to ensure the safety of our customers, suppliers and employees.
Our hearts go out to all who've been impacted – including other local businesses who have been forced to close or make severe adjustments to their business model. We recognize that we have been blessed by being allowed to stay open, and we are committed to being responsive to your needs as this situation evolves.
We ask that if you have an opportunity to support a small business in any way, that you make a choice to do so. We are in this together and we stand united with our fellow local business owners.
We are sincerely grateful for your support.
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[Len-Co Lumber]
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[Cameron Ashley Building Products]
We’re all in it together.
Like many of you, we are closely monitoring the outbreak of the Coronavirus and its impact on our communities. Cameron Ashley and J&R Products are doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of our team and our customers.
Following advice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we are promoting cleanliness, social distancing, and regular handwashing. Wherever it is possible we have created opportunities for many of our team to work from home. We have restricted business travel and asked employees not to attend outside meetings or events.
We want to reassure you that our Distribution Centers (DCs) are open, and we are continuing to deliver your orders through our normal and F^st delivery services. We have also introduced our F^st pick up lanes which will allow you to stop at any one of our DCs and pick up your order without ever leaving your vehicle. Please give us a call 1-2 hours in advance so we can have your order staged and ready for pick up.
We have asked our outside sales staff to limit their visits to your locations until the threat of spreading the virus has been contained. You may not see us as often as you have in the past, but we will be actively working the phones to make sure you have everything you need.
We will keep you updated on any changes and welcome you to reach out to our team with any feedback or concerns. We are here to support your business and we will navigate through these unknowns together.
Best regards,
Donny DMarie President & CEO
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[Hammond Lumber]
This is Hammond's second notice
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[ABC Supply]
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[Frontier Building Supply]
March 17, 2020
Friends and Neighbors,
Over the last few days, we have received some calls and emails with questions and concerns about what Frontier Building Supply is doing and how long we will be open. The purpose of this is to share with you our thoughts and the directives we will follow as the events surrounding COVID-19 unfold.
First and foremost, the safety of our employees and our customers will always be at the top of our list. To that end, we are following all published guidelines from the CDC regarding sanitization and social distancing within our locations. Taking care a step further, we have instituted the following changes to our business:
No longer requiring signatures on charge account transactions to reduce surface touching.
Focusing on email, phone, and text communications for delivery or curbside loading.
Using internal transfer of goods to eliminate possible interactions whenever possible.
Designation of employees to enforce strict social distancing and sanitation measures.
Providing sanitizer stations at every point of entry in our stores.
Eliminated all vendor/ supplier representation in our business for the foreseeable future.
To borrow a line from Jimmy Buffett, if we knew where it all ended, we might just toss out the anchor. Because we do not know when it ends, we will continue operating in the best way we know how by making sure that we are taking care of our employees and our customers with every safeguard in place.
Should things change and businesses like ours be required to close, we will take every measure we can to communicate those changes as efficiently as possible to reduce the overall impact on your business and ours.
Thank you for being by our side as we navigate through the days and weeks ahead. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to me directly at 360.293.4595 or kelly.fox@fbs.us.
Sincerely,
Kelly Fox
President, Frontier Building Supply
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[McCray Lumber]
March 17, 2020
A Message to Our Customers:
As COVID-19, the coronavirus, begins to have an increased impact, McCray Lumber is taking measures to ensure the health and well-being of our community.
We understand the concern and uncertainty you may be experiencing surrounding this emerging crisis, but as many others, our team is closely following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other local and national health organizations.
Our stores are Open for Business, however in an attempt to keep everyone safe and healthy, we are asking that customers please contact their sales rep by phone/email/text, or our locations by phone or email to place orders. Location contact information can be found at https://www.mccraylumber.com/locations. In addition, please make an appointment to visit our showrooms during this time.
If you do come into the yard, we have taken the following steps.
Increasing cleaning frequency of our facilities, with cleaning supplies readily available across all work spaces and common areas.
Requiring employees stay home when sick, or after contact with anyone that tests positive, as well as sending home anyone that shows respiratory symptoms or fever.
Encouraging frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds.
We have also…
Cancelled or postponed all sales meetings, events or gatherings.
Asked our drivers to minimize contact on sites.
Cancelled all supplier appointments.
Although this is an unprecedented event, working together we can ensure the health and well-being of our community.
Thank You for your business,
Chandler McCray President
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[Lezzer Lumber]
A Message to Our Customers:
In response to the COVID-19 (the coronavirus) outbreak and the statewide shutdown just announced, we will remain open as an essential business throughout the duration of this period unless otherwise instructed by the state. We feel it is important to share the steps we are taking to ensure the safety and commitment we have to our employees, customers, and partners.
We are communicating with product vendors to ensure you have access to all our products, and that they are delivered on time and in full. At this time, we do not foresee any supply chain issues.
We have always emphasized clean and well-organized facilities, vehicles, and equipment, and are now even more diligent in those efforts.
We are closely monitoring the current situation with the coronavirus and are committed to taking appropriate actions to navigate this challenging time. We have instituted the following steps to help reduce the spread of the virus: You can be confident in knowing that Lezzer Lumber is following best practices to keep our customers and employees safe and have the information needed to make the best decisions."
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[Gander Bay Building Supplies (Canada)]
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[Contract Lumber]
COVID-19 Update March 23rd
To Our Valued Partners,
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Contract Lumber is committed to keeping our customers informed amid the dynamic realities of this crisis. Ohio’s governor has issued a “stay-at-home” order for the state. At least 10 states, and numerous major metropolitan areas, have issued similar directives in an effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. Exempted from this order are businesses considered to be critical or essential. The Department of Homeland Security has weighed in on the question of what constitutes a critical or essential business during this time of extreme pandemic mitigation. Their memorandum identified building material supply operations as a critical infrastructure industry which excuses them from the “stay-at-home” orders. In response to this clarification, all Contract Lumber facilities in all states, remain fully operational. We will continue to serve our customers and make deliveries for the foreseeable future.
Contract Lumber has instituted steps so that most employees outside of operations and production are working remotely starting today. In addition, we will continue to adhere to the additional health and safety measures currently in place by the CDC. We are committed to delivering the highest quality services possible and maintaining the elevated standards of safety in the workplace and on the jobsite. The health and safety of our customers, employees, subcontractors, and vendors remains paramount during these difficult and uncertain times. It will take all of us working together to minimize the impact of COVID-19.
If you have any questions, please contact your Contract Lumber sales or labor associate.
The Contract Lumber Family
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[Wilson Lumber] This is Wilson's second message
Yard pick-up to keep you rolling!
In an effort to do our part to keep the spread of COVID-19 to a minimum, we are going to begin printing all tickets for items being picked up to the gate. Just call ahead and we’ll have it ready for you. If what you need is inside the store, one of our sales associates will hand deliver it to the gate, no need to get out of your vehicle! On a side note, we’ve always offered this, we just haven’t advertised it very well. As far as deliveries are concerned, nothing is changing. We’re still delivering 87% of everything we sell. Beginning Monday, March 23rd, customers will be welcomed into the showroom by appointment only so that we can ensure proper distancing and adhere to sanitation practices. This is temporary, however, the yard pick-up service will remain in place even after we re-open the doors to all, after this threat is gone. To place orders or schedule an appointment you may call your sales person directly or dial our main number 256-852-7411. As always, thank you for your business. May God bless you and keep you healthy!
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[Meek's]
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[Wholesale Millwork]
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[Hayward Lumber]
March 30 update
Thank You to Our Customers, Suppliers and Hayward Team Members
We want to Thank You, our Customers, our Suppliers and our Hayward team members for working together during this health crisis.
How you have responded during this difficult and uncertain time is remarkable. There is nothing more important than the safety of our employees, customers and the communities we serve. Over the last two weeks we have undertaken additional changes to protect our employees, our customers, our vendors and each other. We applaud your efforts and flexibility during these changes, and your help in working with us. We continue to support our employees, customers and communities by providing essential services to our communities.
We will continue to monitor CDC, State and local government recommendations as they continue to change. In addition, we are in contact with local and state health departments and are following their guidelines. Download CDC Guidelines.
As a small local business, we are also working to understand the various stimulus programs that Congress and the President signed late last week.
Here are several resources that you, your family and your small business might find helpful in these unprecedented times.
Apple, CDC, together with the White House and FEMA, launched a new website and app with a COVID-19 screening tool and resources to help people protect their health. For more information go to Federal government link or go directly to Apple Covid19
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has numerous links, here's the link on Prepare Your Family
Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist prepared by US Chamber of Commerce
The US Chamber of Commerce has resources to assist you and your business, Coronavirus Small Business Guide
SBA Disaster Online COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application
We’re all in this together. And we will get through this together. Stay safe!
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[Timberline Enterprises -- March 16 update to employees]
Dear all valued Timberline Employees,
We are in a time that is obviously unsettling and confusing for many of us, but we want to take a few minutes to reassure our employees that whatever resources we have available will be brought to bear to ensure that our employees, customers and vendors are protected. We have no plans to close our facilities unless there is a state or federally mandated shut down.
With that understanding we want people to feel comfortable so moving forward we are implementing the following:
We are freezing PTO as of today. If you are sick, if you have a fever, if you have symptoms; stay home.
Effectively immediately, you will not be debited PTO for sick days over the next four weeks If you need to stay home due to illness.
The school closures have caused numerous issues for many of our employees in regards to child care. If you need any accommodations made please contact Mark Butenas or myself and we will figure out how to work around it.
We are putting in place a financial plan to guarantee, if in fact, we are forced to close down operations all of our employees will be continued to be compensated.
Please remember in times like this we can’t control the circumstances we are in but we can control our reaction to them. Be safe. Take care of your family and friends. Make good decisions.
The company is taking the correct measures and we will advise everyone how we will move forward together. Help out where you can. Ask for help when you need it. I’m available day and night if anyone feels the need to discuss anything at all."
Thank you,
Christopher Costello,
President and CEO
Timberline Enterprises LLC
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[Mid-Am Building Supply]
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[Capps Home Building Center]
This is Capps' second message
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[Hamilton Building Supply]
Given the economic impact of the Coronavirus / COVID-19, we want to provide an update on how Hamilton Building Supply is responding to ensure the health and well-being of our customers and our associates. It’s important to know that this is a very fluid situation, which is evolving with new information and social directives daily. As we receive the latest public updates on the virus, we will share our response initiatives. Hamilton Building Supply is Open For Business, however we are going to ensure the safety of our customers and associates through the following means:
Our associates have been encouraged to stay home if they feel sick or have been around sick people. Likewise, we have a number of associates who may be working from home and will be responsive to all customer inquiries via cell phone and email.
Our Newtown showroom will be closed until Monday, March 23rd and we will reassess that closing thereafter. Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania urged all non-essential retail businesses in Bucks County to close for a period of two weeks.
Our Hamilton location will be closed on Saturday for the next two weeks (3/21 and 3/28) and we will reassess our Saturday closings thereafter. Our regular business hours are unchanged at this point.
Customers are strongly encouraged to use our delivery services as much as possible and avoid our store by calling and emailing general inquiries to our building material specialists. We will deliver any type of material for projects with no order minimums.
Nightly janitorial service of our facilities will be increased with an emphasis on heavier use of chemicals on hard surfaces and desk spaces.
Customers and associates are strongly advised to wash hands regularly, use hand sanitizer and avoid physical contact by not shaking hands and touching faces.
As a partner to our professional and homeowner customers, it's really important that we maintain an open line of communication through various means. We're experiencing unprecedented times right now and we're looking forward to conducting business as usual once again. Until then, we will persevere and serve our customers in the best ways that we can. John Perna President
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[84 Lumber]
The health and safety of my 84 Lumber associates and their families is my number one priority right now. In response to the State of Emergency and the reported case of COVID-19 in Washington County [PA], I wanted to make a few things clear for my Team Headquarters associates.
I will continue to support all of my associates financially during this time. I will stand behind all associates’ base pay and there will not be any lapse in medical benefits.
Given the recent school closures, children always come first. I want associates to do what is right and necessary for their families. Also, no sick time or paid time off (PTO) will be charged during this time period. I don’t want anyone to worry about whether or not they should come to work.
As a company, I am suspending all air travel. It’s important for associates to be safe and near family.
We will continue to monitor the situation and on Monday we will communicate our plan to ensure our stores will continue to service our customers while protecting our associates. I don’t want my associates worried about their jobs or getting their next paycheck. I want them to focus on their health, their safety and their family. At the end of the day, it’s really all about family and my 84 Lumber associates are my family."
God bless, Maggie
[Maggie Hardy Knox, owner and president]
+++ [Ridgefield Supply]
We at Ridgefield Supply Company understand the increasing concern and public health crisis that is the COVID-19 outbreak. It has always been our top priority in providing a safe & clean retail space for everyone. In light of the recent health concerns, we want to keep you informed of the proactive steps we took to ensure your safety in the continuity of our business operation:
Consistently disinfecting equipment | windows and doors | railings
Provided customers with hand sanitizers at both the Paint & Lumber Counters and all common areas.
Our employees have also been instructed to take the additional steps below to reduce the transmission of any virus in the workplace by:
Staying home when feeling ill
Washing hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds
Covering one's mouth with tissues when sneezing, discarding used tissues in the trash, and disinfecting their hands afterwards
Avoiding individuals who are sick with respiratory symptoms
Notifying Human Resources immediately if tested positive for, or been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
Rest assured, our service to you has not be impacted! Our doors will remain open for business to continue to serve our great community and customers. Our full fleet is available to support your business with job site delivery or directly to your home. If you prefer to refrain from visiting our facility, please feel free to call or email your order at 203-438-2626. Our team has been dedicated in assisting your business & homeowner projects in the past and we will continue to support you through the future. If you have any questions or additional concerns, we invite you to email us. Thank you for your continued support; together we will get through this. Sincerely, Margaret Price, Owner/CEO & Glen Albee, President
+++
[Kuiken Brothers]
COVID-19 Coronavirus A Message to Our Customers:
As COVID-19, the coronavirus, begins to have an increased impact on our communities, Kuiken Brothers is taking measures to ensure the health and well-being of our community. We understand the concern and uncertainty you may be experiencing surrounding this emerging crisis, but as many others, our team is closely following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other local and national health organizations.
Our stores are Open for Business, however in an attempt to keep everyone safe and healthy, we are asking that customers please consider placing orders remotely by the following options:
Email us at info@kuikenbrothers.com
Website Contact Form https://www.kuikenbrothers.com/contact-us/
By utilizing the technologies available to us, we hope to keep our community healthy, and productive. This is no doubt a challenge to our community, but as a community, we will see it through, together. Kuiken Brothers is here to help. Again, our yards and stores are all open for pick-up and delivery, however we encourage you to use the available technologies to limit in-person activity at this time. Thank you, Matthew D. Kuiken Vice President of Operations
+++
[LaValley Building Supply/Middleton Building Supply]
(This memo was sent to employees only)
As news develops around the Coronavirus, COVID-19, we are actively monitoring news sources and are committed to encouraging all to be informed while we expand our internal communications to share updates and direction that will undoubtedly affect our business and services for our customers, employees, suppliers and our communities.
We do not know just how disruptive all this will be, but for sure there will be effects following for all. Exactly how we deal with necessary adjustments will depend on what the decisions being made at the federal, state, and local community levels will be in the coming days and weeks ahead. Most recently, we are receiving notices of local community leaders weighing and announcing schools being closed for several weeks. (Stay tuned for your local actions being announced).
As a company, we have one simple objective that guides us: To keep Customers, Employees, Suppliers and Communities as best served as we can, while keeping our customers, employees safe with all interactions in our workplace.
At this time, all locations remain fully operational and all stores are observing normal business hours.
We are directing ramp-up of cleaning services at our stores and have added hand sanitizers at front counters, registers, phones; sanitizing wipes near workstations and counters so that employees can keep them continuously cleaned.
Reminders about using "PPE" for safe and precautionary hygiene practices have been
and will continue to be circulated. We have shared specific instructions with all employees on the importance of washing hands frequently; no handshakes; no touching of face, eyes or nose; and staying home if feeling sick.
We have cancelled the Contractor Appreciation Events at Rochester and Rutland this month and are advising that all unnecessary travel for meetings be delayed until further notice unless essential---using communications of our technology to share timely information and to maintain regular communications and information-sharing.
We will continue to closely monitor the rapidly changing situations and do all we can to protect our employees, customers and continuation of our work place & services.
[Larry Huot, President/CEO]