By Lina Wu
Royal Class Service in New Windsor has been around for years. Matthew Pillius, owner of Royal Class Service, has been self employed since 1995.
Like most businesses, Royal Class Service has had to downsize to essential services only. Its essential HVAC and plumbing services keep New Windsor and surrounding areas running smoothly in the current novel coronavirus [COVID-19] crisis.
“Very interesting actually is the only way I can frame it,” said Pillius about business during the pandemic. He said that his current business has had benefits and downsides like, reduced revenue.
Pillius said that the business has been finding more guaranteed clients because, “they don’t want two or three people out to assess a similar problem.”
While other small businesses in the area have found themselves shutting down, Royal Class Service stays strong.
“At one point I was terrified about being able to provide service safely. I was almost afraid for us to deliver service,” said Pillius. “That was many many weeks ago now, we’ve had to adapt and overcome this entire situation. We’ve had to reinvent ourselves, and how we’re going to keep each other safe in the process.”
Despite staying open, Pillius has had to reduce his staff. There’s currently eleven employees in the shop. He no longer has a warehouse person. The installation coordinator had to go on reduced hours, and one of the apprentices had to go on reduced hours. The book keeper also had to go on reduced hours. Still, Pillius also added positions like an outside sales role.
In addition to physical safety procedures, Pillius has checked on the mental well being of his employees. He’s had to verify that employees are comfortable in their working environment.
“We’ve always had health risks,” said Pillius. “We’ve added some things that ensure that we’re not only able to be safe for us, but we’re also leaving a safe and clean environment for a client when we leave the home.”
Pillius has added a sanitizing system in his building; his business can make its own disinfectant and sanitizers from concentrate. The system ensures that they can fill as many bottles as needed. Hand sanitizing pumps have been installed in every service vehicle.
Pillius hopes to install hand sanitizing pumps in areas around his shop. He said that his shop has always had Purell, but not as many hand sanitizer dispensers as they do now.
“We’ve certainly just upped our game,” said Pillius.
His employees also all have washable face protection that is comfortable for an elongated time. One only has to change the interior carbon filters of the face mask.
His business has also resorted to a completely digital system. They’ve always used a digital dispatching system, but now they use a digital payment system too.
“Everything’s become this hands-free approach to providing the same services,” said Pillius. In addition, when employees work in the homes of customers, they communicate with customers via cell phones to avoid physical interaction.
Pillius said that he monitors the current situation on a daily basis. Despite the pandemic, he has no concerns over a downturn in the industry.
“We’re hoping that all the contractors that do what we do are taking the same precautions and are really about working together to remain safe,” said Pillius. “Whether it’s our team, the community at large, or our clients. None of us want to see the resurgence.”