Read the full interview with Mitch Ross, COVER Store Manager:

Q: Since the COVER Store has re-opened, what have you done to keep customers safe from exposure to the coronavirus?

Mitch Ross: “Well, in Vermont all retail employees are required to wear cloth masks.  But we want to make sure everyone is safe as possible, so we require all customers and volunteers who work in our store to wear a face mask.”

Q: What happens if a customer comes to the COVER store and does not have a mask?

Mitch: “We offer the customer a free mask made by one of our store staff members.  During the quarantine period, Kathy made hundreds of masks at home for the hospitals and first responders.  So, we asked her to make ones we could give to COVER customers once we re-opened.”

Q: What else have you done to make customers safe?

Mitch: “We bought gallons of hand sanitizer from a local distillery and have a station at the entrance to our store with a sign asking everyone to wash their hands before they enter the store. Customers have been very responsive and we are grateful for that.”

Q: What difference do you think these practices have made?

Mitch: “We have a lot of regular customers.  People who come in every week.  People we know on a first name basis.  The first week we were open, only a small number of customers came into the store.  Now we have seen almost all of our regulars back as well as new customers.  We worked hard to make sure our customers know we are open and safe. And you know what: sales have improved every week.”