CLS and COVID-19
Greetings, fellow luthiers,
Looking back on the last 2 weeks, I could have never imagined we'd be where we are today. We live in a small town full of shops, restaurants, and many small business. They're all closed now as we wait to see what the next few weeks hold.
CLS/House Guitars has been, and remains, a family business and a one-man shop. For 17 years, my shop time has been spent working alone, just me and my radio with the occasional visitor. Well, those occasional visitors have stopped.
Right now my family and I are healthy, so I continue to work. And as expected, order volume is low. This means our order wait time, which can be 2-3 weeks for manufactured products like radius dishes, is currently down to 1-2 weeks.
While the uncertainty of this situation has caused some fluctuation in the CAD and USD, the USD remains strong. So this continues to be a great time for US clients to enjoy the savings from the strong USD when purchasing Canadian products.
As a builder, I empathize with what you may be experiencing in this time. I know from talking with some of you that you're dealing with canceled orders, or unplaced orders you thought were coming. I'm in the same boat and it's tough.
I'll continue to fill orders as usual, provided I can still get materials and ship to clients. Our household is practicing the recommended guidelines regarding sanitizing and social distancing.
I'll keep you updated with any changes in service as a result of COVID-19, and look forward to when this has passed.
Take care of yourselves, your families, and maybe check in on a neighbour in need.
Josh & Jessica House