Ben's Auto and Home Glass is seeing lots of orders for COVID shields. (Facebook/Ben's Auto and House Glass)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Business during COVID-19

Local business sees change in requests amid outbreak

Apr 9, 2020 | 3:00 PM

One Prince Albert business has seen a change in its orders now amidst the pandemic.

Ben’s Auto and House Glass is getting lots of requests for safety shields to protect people amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Co-owner and manager Dave Koppelaar said the first order they got for a shield was from a pharmacy downtown. He added since then they have been getting calls from a range of clients who are still open and doing business.

“We’ve been doing them pretty much all over the city now [for] walk-in restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores,” he said.

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Before the outbreak of the virus, Koppelaar said there were not many people requesting to have shields built or installed.

Koppelaar said people who work at the locations where they are installing the shields appreciate them. He said workers tend to feel safer as a result.

When they get a request for a COVID shield, Koppelaar and his staff will try to build and install on the same day. The building process involves staff measuring the installation area before building the shield.

He explained there have been cases where they have gotten many orders on the same day, but regardless they place an important emphasis on getting the protective glass installed.

“Soon as you give us a call, it’s top priority on our list,” he said.

Due in part to the demand, Koppelaar has not been forced to lay off any of his workers, which means a lot to him.

“My staff’s very important to me, I want to keep them going as long as it’s possible,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn