COVID-19 sent many businesses into tailspins and temporary closures.
But for a few, such as Denson Commercial Food Equipment in Yorkton, the pandemic opened up new opportunities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been an interesting run,鈥� said owner Chris Lech, who recalls driving to work after the announced closures of many businesses including restaurants that were a key market wondering 鈥渉ow do I break the news to everybody?鈥�
But then he had an idea, purchasing 鈥渁 couple of loads of toilet paper,鈥� adding that 鈥渨ent in no flat.鈥�
From there Lech said they looked into what other items they might handle to keep their staff working.
Soon they were handling hand sanitizer, face masks, face shields, and surface sanitizer.
鈥淲e just became an essential service to essential services,鈥� said Lech. 鈥淲e changed fundamentally what we do as a business every day.鈥�
Lech said some items have been big for them.
鈥淔ace masks for sure have been huge,鈥� he said, adding face shields have sold well to businesses from hairdressers to dentists.
So too has surface sanitizer. Lech noted that whether it鈥檚 a keyboard, or a baseball bat or glove after use right now it needs to be wiped down with a sanitizer.
Cindy Onofreychuk said the changes came quickly.
鈥淲e just sort of shifted gears overnight,鈥� she said. 鈥�... We were able to stay open. We didn鈥檛 lay anyone off.鈥�
It was a matter of need, added Onofreychuk, noting that while many restaurants were still doing take out 鈥渇or the most part nobody was buying extra equipment.鈥�
Adding new products however was something customers were happy about.
鈥淧eople were very appreciative we could get product for them in a timely fashion,鈥� said Onofreychuk.
How the changes will impact the business long term in an unknown.
鈥淟ong term planning is a fictitious wish right now,鈥� said Lech, adding he can鈥檛 imagine how anyone can effectively plan for the future given the present situation.
