Michael Tessler, Account Manager for Imperial Soap and Supplies Limited, an independent family run company with 13 employees, says that his company "has had enough supplies and inventory such as disinfectant products, hand sanitizer, wipes and masks during the Covid 19 pandemic." Tessler says "It is a challenge to maintain normal stock levels  in a world wide pandemic. We've met those challenges and even more. This is an unprecedented situation. A lot of companies who are bigger than us in the U.S. and world wide are experiencing product shortages."

As Tessler explains, on the one hand, due to the coronavirus "a lot of my accounts, such as hotels, schools, institutions and offices are closed." However,  Tessler says he gained  new accounts such as "personal care homes, medical clinics, and front line businesses, all of whom needed disinfectant products, hand sanitizers, wipes and masks." He elaborates  that Imperial Soap and Supplies Limited "provided services and products for a few accounts who were under the  umbrella of  Manitoba Regional Health." He notes that "personal care homes have the challenge of sanitizing while dealing with elderly residents who are vulnerable and at risk." 

"We gained certain large accounts that have never dealt with us before. They were short on products. We got the account over some national companies that didn't have any inventory or products in stock," Tessler notes. He adds that "We are one of the few companies to help maintain normal working operations during this time for many places. We had enough supplies and inventory. We made sure our own customers were cared for  and then we took on new accounts."

Tessler notes that "We do commercial and residential, whatever your needs are."

Tessler also points out that "Our company maintained proper pricing  while  some others had substantial increases." (For example, Tessler indicates that one company he is aware of jacked up the price of one roll of toilet paper, charging $5 for it.)

Tessler says that "We have the ability now to take on new accounts." He also states that"the demand for hand sanitizer and masks has leveled off."  Notwithstanding this, "people still have to be very diligent because there is no vaccine for the coronavirus."

"Washing your hands with soap regularly is the best thing to do," he says, while using hand sanitizer is the second best.

Tessler, who notes that his company did not lay off anyone because of the pandemic, knows that there could be a second wave of the virus in the fall or winter. "People will need to be protected. We're prepared if there is a second wave," he says.