Friday Things - March 12 Weekly Wrap up and Look Back.
/It’s the week. The week we knew was coming. The week that marks that point in time when everything shut down. I remember this day last year so vividly. T was going to school for only a half-day so teachers could start planning IN CASE they needed to make the switch. Desperate for a full day in the office IN CASE they needed to make the switch her Grandma picked her up and took her shopping…. and we now have two enormous unicorn pictures hanging in her room. But I digress.
That day in the office we got word that both home shows for the following day were canceled. We got confirmation that the hockey game on Sunday for Mom’s birthday was canceled. In fact, we got word The lists I started to make were significant. I knew if i could get my mind around how the business could keep moving forward we would be fine. Steve tried to finish as many in-person meetings as he could and I started writing all of these lists:
Which activities can we continue working on if we need to stop in-home selling?
What do we need to do to sell virtually? How can we modify the sales process?
If daily appointments stop then what projects can we pull off the back burner and complete?
What needs to be done to move forward on exterior-only installs to keep money coming in?
How do Kasey and I split the office operational and administrative duties if we are both working from home?
What if we need to stop installing?
What if Steve gets sick?
Seeing the laptop in her bag that night felt like a punch to the gut. Normally I plan for lots of things that never happen but my flurry of planning that day suddenly seemed like it was absolutely going to happen.
Over the course of the next two weeks, we kept working on ideas inside those lists and all the projects connected to them. We abided by the “keep moving forward” motto and even as we upheld the State’s Stay at Home Directive, Steve continued to come in to the warehouse and the office every day and worked on all those things that he never had enough time for before. And the full force of the virus and the effects of it, and the school closings and the scramble to deal with it all before our minds could truly even comprehend what was happening was the collective experience we all endured together.
Here we are. One year later. School is finally back in session (at least for us), vaccines are rolling out, 5/5 of our parents are partially vaccinated, and instead of the drama of one year ago… today the State press conference announced continued loosening on restrictions. We live with hope.
I am proud of our entire office for the incredible work we have done this year. I am proud of our individual ability to continue making very hard decisions about contact and travel. One year in and my family has not had COVID. We had one close contact scare back in July that Steve tested for however T & I have not been tested. At the risk of isolation and “missing out” we kept our business running, we have stayed healthy so that T and her class could return to school and then stay in school . Without suffering the COVID infection we know we will not also suffer any long-term effects of it and for that we know our tough year was worth it. The finish line is close. We hope and expect to be vaccinated in April and then we fully expect to party all of May.
Some highlights from the week:
Looks like we are just about a month out from road restrictions being pulled so we are preparing for those roofing jobs that have sat in the pipeline this winter.
Appointments are filling the books - if you are thinking of getting an estimate call now.. we are about 7-10 days out on all appointments.
Supply chains are still impacted - more than doubling our window and door lead time. We are seeing the product come in 10-12 weeks after orders are placed pretty consistently. If you buy today you should get installed in July.
But July sounds nice. All sunny and BBQ-y.
This super cool Vapor Door was featured in a blog post this week.
Last but not least, the cheeseburger. Most of the time the burgers are beef but this week I found this yummy pork burger with all the delicious flavors needed… and even some cole slaw in the bun.
Stay safe. Stay careful. Be hopeful of the good that is to come. Peace.
We are a shop at home company specializing in replacing windows, siding, roofs and front entry doors. As we sit with you and learn about what you want to change on your home we can provide the best product and color options to you. You can expect lots of questions from us as we try to understand what you're looking for. For that reason, it is best if both homeowners are there. We commit to giving you a detailed, same day estimate. Every time.
Steve the Window Guy for Universal Windows Direct is a full exterior remodeling company focusing on replacing windows, siding and roofing. Steve and his team of are experts in working with people just like you to create a plan for the most cost efficient way to complete your exterior remodeling project. We are part of a national dealer network that has catupulted to the 10th largest* remodeling company in the nation. Locally we have an A+ rating with the BBB with zero complaints. Steve has been recognized by Universal Windows Direct as National Dealer of the Year three times for his hard work and dedication to getting things right. We are locally owned and operated in Bloomington, MN and work throughtout the Twin Cities Metro. Updating your home can be easy.
We believe Steve the Window, Siding and Roofing Guy was just too long of a name.
*Source: Qualified Remodelers Top 500 List, Published September 2019.
