Friday, November 13, 2020

We're Baaack!!! (Actually We've Been Back For A While.) So THANK YOU!

                Well, it's been one of those years - and it's not over yet, is it?  A global pandemic, social distancing, political unrest - I wonder what these waning weeks of 2020 still have in store for us(!).  Hopefully, this "new normal" that many are prone to talk about is anything but.  Though wearing a sanitary mask and social distancing is probably a good idea anyway in safeguarding against airborne viruses (whether there's a pandemic or not), I think I speak for many when I say that a vaccine can't arrive soon enough so we can have the same bulwark against Covid 19 that we already have against influenza, tuberculosis, typhoid, malaria, diphtheria (well, you get the idea!) and then we can get back to social closeness, large family gatherings, indoor restaurants, music concerts, sold-out sporting events, etc.  

               With all the major upheaval throughout the world caused by the pandemic, and the absolute tailspin effect it's had on so many industries and national economies, it's good to know (and to be grateful for the fact) that we're still here, still working and still serving the people that make it possible for us to work in the first place...our customers.  

               Although we had to temporarily close our doors during the initial lockdown, we gradually (and cautiously) got back to business with our customers, at first via website sales and e-mail sales.  Eventually, we were able to physically open the doors of our store to the general public with, of course, the requirement of wearing masks and socially distancing.

               There have been so many companies in the world that have been effected in such a profoundly negative way, I am amazed at the fact that even though we had every risk of being pulled by that same negative undertow, our customers remained loyal and resourceful, and showed us that 'recognition' and 'recreation' (specifically for the home) are two things that are, in many ways, right up there with food and water.  Although being cooped up in quarantine for several months can do a number on our personalities and not being able to gather in mass numbers puts the kibosh on any formal presentation ceremonies, our customers have refused to give up.  

               Our pool-table customers have taken advantage of being home more often than ever before that they have kept us busy beyond our wildest expectations.  Perhaps in some small way, we have contributed to keeping families "sane at home":)  Meanwhile, our awards customers have rightfully decided that, even though in-person presentations and award banquets are just not going to happen this year, the people that have earned their 'recognition of excellence' still deserve to receive that 'recognition of excellence' - in whatever it is at which they excelled.  It made perfect sense to us, and thank goodness it made perfect sense to our customers!

               So even though we have been temporarily slowed by a worldwide catastrophe, we can now say with full confidence that "we're baaack"!  But actually we've been back for a while now, and that was only made possible by the kind of loyalty from customers that, in effect, said to us that they want us back.  And for thatwe say to all of our customers who have kept us going this year a massive and heartfelt, "THANK YOU!!!".