COVID Related Supply Chain issues & Shop Status

---

[August 2022]  Correctly worn facemasks over your mouth and nose is now optional. We are fully vaccinated here in the shop. If you are not feeling well, please schedule your framing appointment when you're fully recovered. If you're not yet comfortable having an in-person appointment, we are still offering virtual framing appointments.  

------------------------------------

[April 2022] In accordance with local, State and Federal COVID protocols. Masking requirements have been relaxed. However, the Jefferson County Health Department, and State of Washington does still recommend continuing to correctly wear a facemask over your nose and mouth. Don’t be surprised to see Robert and David still wearing their facemask while working with clients. As always, if you are not feeling well, believe you may have a cold, the flu, or COVID, please stay at home. We will continue to offer scheduled appointments for in person and virtual custom framing as an option, but it is not required. 

------------------------------------

(7/11/21) As of Jun 30, 2021 the State of Washington, and Jefferson County has updated the COVID mask requirement to the following: You are required to continue wearing your mask over your nose and mouth regardless of vaccination status. Under WA State Department of Health, the management may ask for proof of vaccination 

------------------------------------

{6/30/21) On June 30, 2021 the State & County lifted the mask requirement in most areas, ONLY for vaccinated individuals; non-vaccinated individuals are STILL required to wear a face-mask. We have discussed this change, and while we are, and have been vaccinated, we are not in the position to police the general public. Therefore to keep the policy fair, at least through the 4th of July Holiday weekend, our policy requiring correctly worn face-masks over your mouth, and nose will remain in place to visit, work, or make deliveries to our shop.  We will revisit our policy again after the holiday weekend.   

------------------------------------

Hello everyone.

So, we are in to 2021 and while there have been cases within the county, it still remains very low by comparison. Here at Frameworks we continue to utilize all available tools and information to help keep everyone safe. The shop has been sanitized according to recommendations and continues to require masks of all who enter.

As a result of COVID, the professional framing industry has been experiencing a significant supply chain delay. At the time of a custom order, there may be available moulding, mat, glass, etc. but when it comes time for delivery there may not be enough to go around. Here at Frameworks in Port Townsend we communicate with our suppliers every week. While we strive to get every project completed on time, it is safe to assume due to these issues that every order could face additional lead time to complete.

Thank you for your patience as we all work through the global supply chain challenges.

------------------------------------

Frameworks NW will be fully open starting Saturday May 30th. Custom framing appointments are still recommended. New COVID-19 Mandatory Changes [No mask, no entry]: In accordance with Jefferson County RCW & WAC 246-100-036, [until further notice] ALL individuals must wear a face mask correctly covering their nose and mouth in order to enter any retail establishment. 

MODIFIED & SERVICES:

• Custom framing appointments are still recommended. 
• We are also offering Virtual Custom Framing project appointments via Google Hangouts and Zoom.
• Once your custom project, or online order is ready, you will be called by either David or Robert to schedule your pick-up appointment.

PERSONAL AND CUSTOMER SAFETY: 

• All counters, and work areas inside Frameworks Northwest are sanitized throughout the day in accordance to recommended industry safety standards.
• It is a Jefferson County Legal Requirement that anyone entering the shop wear a face mask covering their mouth and nose in accordance with local, state and CDC guidelines.
• Our team at Frameworks Northwest is equipped with recommended PPE 

PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING: 

• While in the shop, please allow for the best possible social distancing. 
• We ask that you please refrain from handling moulding and mat samples. This also includes available artwork and ready-made frames while in the shop. We will be more than happy to answer any questions and assist you with in store products, and package your purchases for carryout. 

------------------------------------

5/10/20 

FRAMEWORKS NORTHWEST IS USING COVID-19 BEST PRACTICES

MODIFIED HOURS & SERVICES:

• Temporarily we have established an appointment only system. 
• We are also offering Virtual Custom Framing project appointments via Google Hangouts and Zoom.
• Once your custom project, or online order is ready, you will be called by either David or Robert to schedule your pick-up appointment.

PERSONAL AND CUSTOMER SAFETY: 

• All counters, and work areas inside Frameworks Northwest are sanitized throughout the day in accordance to recommended industry safety standards.
• It is highly recommended that anyone entering the shop wear a face mask covering their mouth and nose in accordance with local, state and CDC guidelines.
• Our team at Frameworks Northwest is equipped with recommended PPE 

PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING: 

• While in the shop, please stay in the designated design areas to allow for the best possible social distancing. 
• We ask that you please refrain from handling moulding and mat samples. This also includes available artwork and ready-made frames while in the shop. We will be more than happy to answer any questions and assist you with in store products, and package your purchases for carryout.
• Please enter and exit through the same door for your scheduled appointment. 

------------------------------------

5/4/2020

Hello everyone! We wanted to give you an update. First, thank you everyone for the kind messages and your support. Like all the rest of the businesses in town, it means a great deal.

• Over the past few weeks we have made changes to the shop allowing two specific design areas with social distancing in mind. This will allow us to work with you on new projects with minimal contract, and of course wearing face masks. For the time being, we have set up an appointment based system available here on the website. To allow time to work on projects in the shop, and time for those picking up, new project appointments are currently set for Monday’s, Wednesdays and Saturdays. We are scheduling pick-up appointments on Fridays and Saturdays. 
• We had a lot of new projects come into the shop just before the CORONA-19 shut down. We received about 80% of the mouldings, mats, etc. to complete those projects. If you have not received a call for pick up already, you will be shortly. 
• It is sounding like more and more of our supply chain is getting back on their feet, which will slowly get us back up to full capacity. But don’t wait! If you have something you need framed, it is better to get your project in now.
• Ready-Mades -- we have stock in the shop for most sizes. Currently we are out of 11x14 black ready-mades. That supplier is not ready yet to ship new products, but we are working on some options here in the shop.

It is our goal to keep everyone safe, have the least amount of contact possible and still maintain our project workload. 

One last item. We are STILL being hit hard with robo and scam phone calls everyday. The calls seem to be starting in the middle of the night and keep coming until our system box is full. We are clearing these off daily, but it quickly fills up again. If you can’t get through on the phone, send us an email. 

------------------------------------

4/3/2020

Hello everyone. This is not the update that we were hoping to post. But as you all know by now, on April 2, 2020 Gov Inslee extended the social-distancing “stay-at-home” order through May 4, 2020. We realize this is a major blow to everyone in our community. Small businesses, furloughed or laid off employees, etc. But, given the current situation of the virus we can understand this discussion when standing back and looking at the bigger picture. 

Here is our current situation:

• Robert is not able to work in the shop until we re-open for normal business. He is however working on design projects and graphic design projects at home. 
• Chris is home from college, so he and I are at the shop a few hours each day with the goal of working through projects that came into the shop prior to the Government order.
• Chris and I actually fall into the "at-risk" group due to asthma. Needless to say, we are taking the necessary steps to stay healthy.
• The two - three weeks prior to the mandatory shut down we had a significant amount of new projects brought into the shop. THANK YOU!!! Without Robert in the shop, at this moment I am making my way through each one of them. So this means our physical “worker” hours have been cut in half. But projects are getting completed.
• Clients Beyond Port Townsend: We have clients that are currently in other states, or areas beyond the “metro” area of Port Townsend. We understand that you are not able to travel into town, and you shouldn’t right now. Your work is safe, and secure.
• Pick-up, Drop-off and shipping: We have had several people inquire about coming into the shop to pick-up, have us drop-off or ship. Legally, we cannot allow you to come into the shop for regular business. Robert and I are figuring out the logistics of how we can do a drop-off for new projects, safely deliver to clients, or ship.
• Phone system. As many of you already know, last fall we started receiving a barrage of unwanted robo and scam calls. You would think with our current situation we would see a reduction in these calls. In fact we have seen an increase. We are aware that every morning our voice mailbox is full. It appears from the phone record that the robo calls are starting about 3:00AM PST and do not let up. It is filling our box with dead-air, or partial messages. We are clearing those messages as we can throughout the day. At last count we are receiving more than 30 of these calls each day. Needless to say, this is extremely frustrating.

Final note: First and foremost, we want to Thank You for all your support as a local small business. Frameworks has been part of this community for the past 30 years. We would not be here if not for all of you. Your health and safety is our most importance concern. If you have a project in the shop, it is safe and secure. If you brought in a project within a few weeks of the shut down, those projects are being completed and will be available for you as soon as we can get through the current government orders. If you can’t get through on the phone, please use the email on our website under “Contact Us.” I will get back to you as quickly as possible.

THANK YOU!!!! 

David