Hello everyone,
We hope that wherever you are, you’re doing okay and taking deep breaths. Thank you for all your notes of support over the last few days, they have meant the world to us.
As you know, we have been working hard to “re-open” in a manner that feels safe, healthy, and sustainable. This has become increasingly challenging to plan for - in part due to the failure of our government to proactively ramp-up testing and develop a more robust social safety net. In California, they’ve just ordered “shelter in place”, New York is not far behind - will Massachusetts be next? And what is our responsibility as a business, to help prevent unnecessary exposure by limiting our operations? There are no clear answers.
Two weeks ago, our leadership literally sat down in a coffee shop to make beautiful plans for our business’s future, writing down ideas like “paid professional development” and “paid volunteer time” and “robust events series”. Right now, our focus is on the survival of our company.
For next week:
We plan to “open” with a small crew Tuesday - Saturday at both stores 10am - 6pm for phone orders / web orders / local deliveries / curbside pick-up - ONLY.
(Mercato orders will also be delivered on Monday 3/23, we’re putting them together for you this week - feel free to place your order in advance).
This means we’re not yet allowing customers into the store, and will be running with a small team dedicated solely to each store (less exposure).
We hope to open our doors very soon (perhaps the following week) for appointments and limited walk-ins, in addition to the delivery and curbside pick-up options.
Yesterday, we made the unbelievably difficult decision to temporarily furlough a portion of our team. We have carefully evaluated every possible option, but ultimately felt we had no other choice, in order for Cambridge Naturals to weather this crisis. I won’t belabor the point, but please know that our entire team is of the utmost importance to us, and it is a small business owner’s worst nightmare, to have to make these calls.
Effective immediately, all four owners will completely suspend their salaries.
Each employee who has been temporarily furloughed will be able to apply, immediately, for unemployment benefits
All those who are on our health insurance plan will be covered at least through April 30th (we pay 100% of monthly premiums).
All were also paid a week’s wages for this week, while the stores were closed.
It is our greatest hope that we will be able to re-engage every single person, as soon as our business model can stabilize to a point where employing all 35 people is possible once again.
Please stay tuned for further details on how we will “re-open” for business next week. Thank you for your patience with us, as we figure out how to be a brick-and-mortar business that thrives on personal interaction, in a world that won’t allow for that right now.
Thank you, as always, for being our community.