What do you do if your printing business is suffering because of COVID-19? Well for one Fresno business, employees are going with the times.
Dumont Printing is still dealing in its usual trade: signage. But instead of company mailers and event announcements, it's making "Keep Distance" decals.
“Immediately we started selling social distancing floor graphics to try and help the small business who is still open and has blue tape on their floor,” said Susan Moore, Dumont’s president and owner.
The decals are bright yellow, reminding patrons to “Maintain Social Distancing”.
But the company is also branching out.
“I have everyone from my manufacturing staff down to my admin staff making face shields now,” said Moore.
The face shields are designed to protect the upper face. On its manufacturing floor, about 10 employees in cloth masks and gloves add foam and elastic to plastic sheets, and pack them into boxes.
Moore explains that the machines are cutting the plastic needed for each shield. She says she got the idea when an industry colleague reached out, saying this was his alternative to closing. Business has slowed down as non-essential companies have shut down or cancelled events.
"We started production and delivered out our first order, all within a week," Moore said.
Dumont Printing has since made over 60,000 face shields. Moore says police and fire departments, nursing homes, and hospitals have made purchases.
Note: Dumont Printing is an underwriter for Valley Public Radio.
