Preston-based Savoy Timber has paid all 80 of its staff a bonus to recognise their support after demand for outdoor timber and decking doubled during COVID-19 lockdown.
Founded in 1952, Savoy supplies doors, decking, worktops and cut-to-size timber through outlets in Preston, Blackpool and Wigan, as well as nationally via its website designed by local firm 21Digital.
The family-run business closed its retail outlets to customers from the start of lockdown, but maintained a click-and-collect and delivery service to keep up with demand, which increased beyond normal levels during the crisis.
Savoy Timber fourth generation family member Lisa Royle said: “This time of year would normally be our busiest time for outdoor timber and decking, but we have in fact seen demand almost double during the coronavirus.
“I was actually talking to a customer, who is a policeman, near the beginning of lockdown and he was stressing to us how important it was to keep going with the delivery service to help people stay home and busy, and a lot seemed to be using the time to improve their homes and gardens during lockdown.
“The thing is, although demand doubled, we couldn’t take on anymore staff because of social distancing, so our team have had to effectively work twice as hard. They’ve all of them really gone the extra mile, from all the guys in the workshop and out delivering through to our office staff, processing orders into the night.
“We’ve now paid all our staff a bonus to acknowledge their extraordinary efforts during these unprecedented times and are looking forward to fully opening all our retail outlets again now lockdown has been eased.”
