Supporting local communities and essential businesses
Omnify Lighting has produced several community and healthcare face shields, social distancing decals, and acrylic barriers for various businesses.
Gemini, a wholesale supplier that has provided innovative solutions to the signage and graphics community for more than 65 years, too, joined in the fight against COVID-19 by producing face shields and shield components along with supplying bio partitions to various essential businesses.
“Many of our facilities are in smaller, rural communities without the same access to supply as larger metropolitan areas,” said the company’s general manager, Kerri Eady. “Considering our known capabilities among our neighbours, we received requests to lend a hand and produce shields and protective components for our local fire departments, police services, and health-care workers. We also supported essential businesses that were required to remain open but needed to protect their employees quickly and efficiently.”
The shop created capacity in its laser-cutting and assembly departments through the initial need for PPE products. Following rising demands, the company established resource shifts to continue operations beyond standard hours while keeping teams physically distanced and adhering to all necessary safety protocols.
Being a custom manufacturer of signage components, Gemini was uniquely positioned and used the same operator and graphic team skillsets to facilitate components. Although not much of the operation was altered to recognize the need, knowing the importance and contribution its teams were able to offer to the local community made it even more significant.
That said, the shop’s challenges were not unique. The pace necessary to react appropriately in uncharted territory resulted in a level of ambiguity.
“It was the willing collaboration among leaders in our industry and the ongoing sharing of information and best practices that made the difference, putting some certainty to the doubt and some clarity to the indecision,” said Eady.
Gemini joined in the fight against COVID-19 by producing face shields and shield components along with supplying bio partitions to various essential businesses.
The shop plans to continue to support local communities as needed; however, now that there is a strong and innovative supply network available through the industry and others for PPE-related products, it intends to renew focus on its traditional routine of supplying signage solutions to partners.
As companies continue to find unique ways to assist clients, wholesale trade printer SinaLite has produced a range of products, including social distancing floor graphics, health and hygiene decals, and protective face shields to help print partners in Canada.
“Our industry has been greatly impacted by the pandemic, and we wanted to do something to create opportunities for our print partners so they can adapt to the current circumstances,” said the company’s vice-president of marketing, Brian Meshkati. “We wanted to be able to contribute to the movement and education needed to stop the spread of the virus by reminding people of healthy hygiene practices and the importance of social distancing.”
