Read the story in our online magazine!
Normally around this time of the year Gerry Keany and members of his team at CARA STATIONERY are dealing with enquiries from clients about branded Golf balls and Golf merchandise for charity & corporate events as well as promotional products. This year however Gerry himself has only played twice (badly!) and his team are dealing with queries for hand sanitisers, masks, thermometers, and anti-virus desk shields. Cara has had to pivot its focus with clients seeking these products to get their businesses up and going again.
Over 75% of the Cara Stationery client base is in the Construction industry and a lot of these firms continued working during the lockdown albeit with reduced activity. Cara remained open during the period in order to provide a service to these businesses many of which were essential services in the water, rail and waste management sector. A lot of the non-construction clients continued in operation with staff working from home. Again, Cara Stationery adopted a flexible approach and were able to provide essential deliveries to home addresses. ‘We supplied quite a few ergonomic chairs to private addresses during the early part of lockdown and this kept us very busy then’ explains Gerry
Desk Shields for Social Distancing
With businesses now starting to reopen and government regulations and employee welfare so important, the construction sector now ensures that in addition to PPE, which has become the norm for operatives, firms are providing hand sanitisers, masks and face shields for their workforce. This is mirrored in all other areas of business.
Away from the actual building sites, offices are altering layouts, so movement is in one direction only where possible. Signage highlighting the two-metre ruling and direction of movement are now in evidence in most offices. ‘We have been extremely busy supplying and installing virus desk shields (sometimes called sneeze guards) made of Perspex to businesses where it is difficult to ensure strict social distancing’ Keany adds. This is in addition to providing cleaning products – surface wipes, sanitisers as well as masks and face shields. Strange times indeed, but Gerry can see a resilience in his clients who are anxious to get their businesses reopened while ensuring their employees can work in a safe environment. He is optimistic for the future and feels that once we get over this year things will begin to look up again. He misses the BITA lunches and looks forward to the day that they start up again! Anyone looking to get in touch with Cara Stationary can visit www.carastationery.co.uk.