Today I have the pleasure of introducing Carole & Garold Gipman and their daughter Nikki Van Boeyen.

They own and run Gipman Kitchens and Cabinetry in Cranbrook, and have been helping local businesses by building and installing hygiene barriers, in addition to adapting to new ways to carefully supply home & business owners with new cabinetry and countertops for their renovation and building projects.

How has the current covid-19 situation affected your business?

CoVID-19 definitely threw a few hurdles at our business. Especially early on. We were incredibly lucky that we did not have to shut down operations but we went from 8 full time employees to 2. Our cabinet shop here in Cranbrook is 15,000sqft and each staff member is responsible for their own line of machinery and tools so there is little opportunity for cross-contamination. We asked everyone to stick to their zones and provided them with sanitation supplies. Our managers comb the entire facility at the beginning/end of day as well as before and after breaks and sanitized all common areas and surfaces. Our studio typically operated by appointment only anyways. We increased our cleaning protocols and ask that customers keep their hands to themselves while our design staff show them around. We allow our customers to touch samples, as long as our staff pull them out and then they are kept separate until after the appointment when we sanitize and put away. We temporarily stopped in-home visits. We implemented a pre-screen process and have custom masks and personal sanitation protocols to follow before and after entering a home. We also limit the number of customers we can meet with per day.

What positive or uplifting things are you seeing right now?

I love seeing all the Wine Fairies, Birthday Parades and support around local business. I love how the Kootenays has rallied together to stay positive and bring joy to a scary an uncertain time. People here have taken Dr. Bonnie Henry seriously and that has proven effective in our region.

What are you doing to find joy or stay happy during this time?

At work we have been able to dedicate more time to some fun little pet projects and developments within our cabinetry offerings. Personally we have enjoyed the extra time with our families, getting out doors and enjoying the spring weather!

Is there anything specific you'd like to share, or wish people knew right now?

As Ellen says, Be kind to one another!