Companies of all sizes across the promotional products industry are heeding government recommendations and making needed changes to their operations, including work-from-home policies for employees and additional sanitization and safety measures to reassure customers and help stem the spread of COVID-19.
Supplier Logomark is among those implementing new precautionary measures designed to protect its employees and customers from the spread of the virus. Beginning Monday, all outside sales employees and management began working remotely from their home offices and the company temporarily suspended all in-person office meetings or events through the end of April.
CEO Trevor Gnesin says, “Our No. 1 priority is the safety, health and well-being of our staff and clients. Daily operations will not be affected by this change.” Earlier in February, Logomark suspended all travel to China and announced that its staff in China would work from home.
Remote employees will have complete access to all of Logomark’s internal systems and will continue to be available via phone and email to all customers, as well as have the ability to conduct webinars and sales meetings using videoconferencing software.
The Tustin, California, supplier has also increased precautionary measures at its headquarters by installing additional hand sanitizers throughout the building, sanitizing high-traffic areas and surfaces multiple times per day and has suspended any factory tours until further notice.
On Tuesday, California’s Santa Clara County initiated a “shelter in place” order for residents and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area causing supplier Chameleon like, Inc. to cease operations temporarily. The company’s inside and outside sales team members are available remotely to answer questions, but journal production is suspended at this time. However, the company’s Packed Online facility in Houston, Texas, remains open and can accommodate gift box and mailer projects.
On Wednesday, Chuck Dahlgren, president of supplier Crystal D, released a statement regarding operations during the coronavirus pandemic to inform customers of the company’s efforts to ensure the health of employees and the organization. “We want our customers to feel secure, knowing they will be able to connect with our Memory Makers during normal business hours,” he says. “We are operating as usual with no disruption. Unless mandated by the government to close, we will remain open and processing orders as scheduled.” He further states that orders will ship on time, as stock levels remain high, and customers can access their order information through Crystal D’s Order Tracker system on the website. Crystal D is also emphasizing drop shipments for canceled events to ensure its client’s end buyers will still be able to get the awards they ordered to the recipients who earned them. Additionally, the company is offering free insertion services for these drop shipments.
Internally, Dahlgren has implemented additional precautions for employees, including vitamin stations to help boost their immune systems along with green tea and echinacea tea that help boost the immune system. The company has also implemented additional daily cleaning procedures, including disinfecting workstations and common areas daily, limiting access to the building and practicing as much social distancing as possible. “Many of our Memory Makers have already started working from home,” he says. “We are in a very disruptive time, but it’s no one’s fault. We need to address the situation head on and, most importantly, together. My goal is to protect our employees first as much as possible and to keep Crystal D running with minimal disruption.”
Tampa, Florida-based BIC Graphic NA’s CEO David Klatt issued a statement earlier this week to reassure distributors of the measures the company has taken, including working to set up many employees to work from home, avoiding crowding in common spaces within the factory and enhanced sanitization methods across the facility. He also notes that the company’s factories in China are up and running at full capacity. “BIC Graphic will continue to take and produce orders with no anticipated disruption to our order flow while we monitor this ongoing situation,” Klatt says. “It is our goal to stay informed, use necessary precautions and prioritize the health of our employees and customers. We are fortunate to be a full-line supplier with diversified offerings in four different facilities. Our business operates with sites in Minnesota and Florida, as well as with external partners to support business continuity. Additionally, the new bicgraphic.com is up and running where you can place orders and get them into the system 24/7.”
Suppliers and distributors are encouraged to use PPAI’s new status page to post and view updates and status reports regarding supplier company’s operations.
