Coexisting with COVID 19

Friday. It's the day of the week I plan my trip to the local market, between 4:30 and 5:00, the north entrance, because I know the carts are sanitized.  There I'll find a kind employee, smiling through their eyes, as I'm welcomed and directed to the sanitizing towels.  Like you, I follow my typical path, guided by directional arrows on the floor and how many items I can hold in my arms as I make my way back to my parked cart.  I make my way through the store, mindful of the 6 feet spacing recommendations. It's my approach to be safe and, equally important, respectful of other shoppers' concerns and safety.  

Now, and possibly for many months to come everywhere we go, everything we do, businesses we frequent will require thoughtful strategy until a successful vaccine is developed and distributed globally to all.

If you're reading this newsletter, its because you have your own strategy to help quell this global pandemic as quickly as possible and to take additional steps to protect your family, friends, customers, and employees.  

Over the last couple of weeks, as businesses reopen, the conversations with our customers have been different with a new set of questions, considerations, and challenges. We talk about square footage, traffic flow, high touch areas, and items, meeting spaces, and the safety of these technologies  At the core of these discussions "what is the right strategy for my business?"

There are two critical themes to these discussions that we, as business owners (and employees), must focus on.  First, are you implementing policies and practices that create a safer environment for customers and employees? Second, do these steps increase the confidence of your customers?  

We continue to work with suppliers and partners to find proven solutions for our customers. We don't list/market all of the commercial products we have access to (e.g., HVAC sterilization systems and HEPA compliant air filtration devices). However, we're eager to help all our customers find the right solutions.

Product Overview
Portable Wands:
These devices are beginning to get positive feedback in the market. Put simply, many are proving to be effective when held 6 inches or closer to hard- and soft-sided items. Beyond personal and use for travel, they instill confidence in customers when scanning a card reader, returns, or clothing in a changing room.

UV/Ozone Disinfection Cabinet:
While smaller than a microwave, if an item fits in one of these units, it's one of the most effective ways to inactivate pathogens. They afford 360-degree coverage and are safe to have in shared spaces. Beyond PPEs and masks sterilization, our customers use these to sterilize equipment, eyeglasses, card readers, ticket scanners, employee's personal and other items. 

Air Purifiers and UV Light Fixtures:
We discussed these devices and the advantages and disadvantages of Ozone last week. The units are being used at fitness centers, doctor's offices, spas, hotels and resorts, guest lobbies, universities, break-rooms, meeting rooms, almost anywhere people frequent or gather. If you've not considered one of these devices, I encourage you to check into them.

I had a conversation yesterday with a new customer, a daycare center that provided a dozen pictures of their facility. We discussed the process changes they're making at the item level to ensure the safety of their students, staff, and families. It spawned considerable and essential research on my part of the impact of germicidal UV and Ozone on fish, turtle, and birds. I share this information because we don't have all the answers. We learn more and more every day. Products and technology change, sometimes for the better, sometimes with little or no measurable impact, it's important that you do your own research.  

I've been accused of over-thinking things, something I learned from a very successful CEO that I worked for. He told me that he derived success from over-preparing for everything. To me, this was obvious, but never more so then the time we meet for breakfast en route to an important meeting with a client. During breakfast, he spilled coffee down the front of his shirt. He got up, went to the bathroom, and returned moments later wearing a new shirt. We were stunned and asked, where did you get that shirt. He said, I always carry a spare shirt because you never know when you might need to impress a client.

Call your suppliers, peers, colleagues, and friends and develop a strategy that's right for you and your business because it true. It is better to be over-prepared than to wish you were.

Share: