COVID-19
Division Road Inc. is sensitive to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 virus and the communal crisis that has occurred. Through this uncertainty, we have been committed to the safety of our team and customers. From the beginning, we have taken actions to provide a clean environment and will be smart and stalwart during this event, sticking to factual information and maintaining operations with best practices that adhere to the guidance provided by CDC and WHO medical professionals.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
As of March 23, 2020, Washington state has been issued a Stay-At-Home measure that prevents the operation of our Seattle Store location, which is currently closed. This measure has been extended beyond its initial end date of May 4th, with a statewide phased re-opening plan.
Phase 1 allows for curbside pick-up, which we will not be offering in order to keep contact and potential complications presented by our product type to a minimum. In Phase 2, Division Road will be offering By-Appointment Service for in-store purchases, allowing us to limit exposure from the general public, maintain social distancing, and institute best practices for sound and safe shopping for our customers, team members, and remote clientele.
An appointment booking system will be available on our website, announced and launched in advance with coordinated dates provided from the State for re-opening. In Division Road style, we will provide an elevated, personalized shopping experience for each appointment, and look forward to seeing you at that time. Until then, our storefront will have to remain closed. Due to our inability to serve local customers until Phase 2, we are refunding shipping charges for orders destined to addresses within King County.
Divisionroadinc.com will be operating online as usual. We will be available during normal business hours by phone and email and welcome your inquiries. Order fulfillment and product releases remain on schedule, per our regular responsive and prompt program. We aim to provide our usual high service standards and will ship your orders responsibly and punctually.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THOSE AFFECTED
In March we began our Contribute Through Craft Program that allocates 10% of Gross Profits from each month to action a direct donation plan to those disrupted by this health and economic crisis. We are focusing our efforts on Pioneer Square as this is a neighborhood made up of almost entirely small businesses that have been gravely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. From our Cash-in-Hand plan in March, to Feed-the-Need in April, this will be an ongoing monthly effort documented on our Journal, Bulletin, and social media. This is a dire financial situation for many, and please know that your purchases with Division Road will directly benefit some of those facing the significant consequences of this crisis and will result in some grassroots good while keeping our operation along with our employees, neighborhood, vendors, and the our concentric circles that Division Road supports, viable for the future.
HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS
In April, Division Road installed a Commercial Air Purification System within our HVAC unit along with utilizing higher rated MERV filters. After researching various methods of purifying air with the goal of killing bacteria, mold, and viruses we determined the best system that combines UV, Oxidation Plasma, Ionized Hydro-peroxides, Super Oxide Ions, and Hydroxide Ions which are all friendly air oxidizers that pose no health risk yet sanitize the air and surfaces. The RGF Advanced Oxidation Technology used has been proven through over 25 years of implementation and is approved and in use by the US Military, among many other international governmental and medical facilities. Along with proven reduction rates of 99.99% surface bacteria/virus, 97% airborne bacteria/mold, and 85% VOC, this system will even kill 99% of microbes in human sneezes within 3 feet. Division Road will continue to research and use technology to improve sanitation and ensure garments, packages, and our environments are beyond best practices and our business is maintaining safe conditions to continue operations.
CONTINUE THE JOURNEY
While we have high professional standards in all regards and aim to operate at the level of much larger corporations, Division Road is a team of three individuals. This business is the lifeblood of our livelihood, supports a niche of authentically made quality goods, and in turn is a driver of prosperity for many throughout our chain of partnerships. As the health concern is paramount for us all, social distancing and shutdown measures resultant from this crisis have and will cause lasting economic distress for a huge population. Many of them will be businesses like ours and those that we support, who endeavor to provide the world with truly special goods and personalized experiences. Let's maintain and preserve the foundational drivers of the economic system and keep the craft alive, along with one another.