Hoping this finds you having been well and safe during these last few weeks, it has been a surreal whirlwind and we are all finding new ways to keep our businesses surviving and thriving through this upheaval.
As of now I am still unclear whether our industry is slated to open or not today and from speaking with some of you, it still seems so confusing to you as well. I have been in communication with many as you have been working behind the scenes, thank you so much for connecting, I truly appreciate you!
The last few weeks have basically been spent supporting suppliers with customer service and tracking lost shipments and anything else to help them take care of you. The days are not as jam-packed as normal, so I took up a little bit of bike riding, then adopted a dog from the Monterey SPCA, she is precious and the daily walks are a refreshing benefit.
Meet Pepper Layne my new furry friend and helpful assistant!
The mills and suppliers are all experiencing challenges, here is the latest:
Prestige Mills’ customer service is still staggering employees in and out of the GA facility, they will start taking calls at the 1-800-223-1224 number today, we are all elated to have the entire staff back and supporting us! Stark Studio Rugs is still 100% remote and the GA customer service staff is supporting them now temporarily until New York eases restrictions.
Bloomsburg opened for a short time then the PA Governor imposed more restrictions, so they are now slated to open until 5-18-20, and that is still not a definite. Customer service is still receiving stock inquiries and taking orders and samples are going out as requests are received. There will be extended backorders due to the shutdown and this will affect Prestige Mills’ Wiltons and wovens made by Bloomsburg as well, unfortunately.
Imported and domestic items are presenting delays as to be expected, flights taking longer to schedule, and mill shutdowns are still taking place, we may see a delay of up to 8 weeks for custom orders from Nepal, India, China, Morocco, and Pakistan from Stark Studio Rugs, Glenn Carpet and Herefords Imports. CCC Thailand is still 100% operational and on time as well as Natural Carpet Company’s Indonesian facility. Bellaire Dynamik is full steam ahead making their gorgeous hide, leather, alpaca etc. creations and White Oak is fully operational as well. Wood flooring is still being made from Greyne CO, Mountain Lumber and Van Speijck with no delays except for freight timeframes.
As we prepare for the new guidelines in business practices, some customers are asking for ZOOM conferences and or video chats to review product with sales staff and maintain and update their showroom samples and fixtures, I am happy to schedule these meetings with you and hopefully have a little bit of fun too. Behind the scenes we have been ZOOM conferencing with each other as representatives to polish up these skills to be better for you, hope it shows!
I would love to hear from you and most importantly know you and your colleagues and family and friends are doing OK and how you are continuing with business during this time.
