A message to our customers, industry, and community.
Together, we are facing truly unprecedented conditions. The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting all of our families, our businesses, our communities, and our way of life. During this time, we wanted to update you on how we’re approaching the situation at Nova Polymers, Inc.
Like you, Nova Polymers is focused on the health and safety of our employees, families, and communities.
We are also very focused on ensuring that our customers keep the cogs of industry turning during these turbulent times.
Rest assured, Nova Polymers has a robust, multi-channel supply chain where raw materials are sourced from multiple providers that are geographically diverse. Our raw materials and finished goods are stored in two different distribution centers in Ohio. Finished goods are inventoried in Bryan OH, Fairfield NJ, Irving TX, and Santa Fe Springs CA.
Today, we have up to 6 months of high demand finished goods located in multiple distribution centers located across the U.S.
As conditions continue to develop, we will keep our customers – many who we call friends, updated with the most recent information. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the most recent updates.
We are all in this together, and it will be together that we work through these challenging times.
Update 04/24/2020
Request for Extended Terms
Download PDF of StatementTogether, we are genuinely facing unprecedented conditions. The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting all of our families, our businesses, our communities, and our way of life.
Like you, Nova Polymers is focused on the health and safety of our employees, families, and communities. We are also very focused on ensuring that our customers keep the cogs of industry turning during these turbulent times.
We anticipate requests to modify or extend payment terms from some of our customers.
While Nova Polymers will always work collaboratively with you to find solutions in difficult times, the conditions all of us are currently experiencing are unprecedented. We have hundreds of customers across North America and abroad who expect Nova Polymers to always be there – with products in inventory and ready to ship. We always have, and always will. In order for us to be able to stock supplies, deliver and meet all of our customers’ expectations, it is essential for our valued customers to maintain payment terms and credit limits.
We cannot extend payment terms at this time due to our own companies’ responsibilities to uphold our payment terms, as agreed upon, to our vendor partners in order to maintain the integrity and viability of our collective supply chains.
Rest assured, Nova Polymers has a robust supply chain. With three warehouses across three time zones, our trained sales professionals and support system will continue delivering the same great product without any interruptions.
As conditions continue to develop, we will keep our customers, many who we call friends, updated with the most recent information. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the most recent updates.
We are all dealing with these uncertain times, but together, we will persevere and overcome them.
Dave Miller
Managing Director
Nova Polymers, Inc.
Update 03/31/2020
As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve within the United States and abroad, we want to assure our customers that Nova Polymers has taken all recommended precautions to combat the spread within our organization and yours. We have taken the precautions that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and encourage you and your business to adopt these best practices.
On Monday, March 2, Nova Polymers enacted an international travel ban to help safeguard our employees and our customers to do our part in helping to control the spread of Covid-19.
On Friday, March 13, Nova Polymers restricted all non-essential travel, domestic and abroad through April 6 and committed to monitoring the situation to assess the path forward.
Today, March 31, we are updating our restriction on travel to align with the administrations’ recent decision to extend federal social distancing guidelines until the end of April.
While there are no guarantees when dealing with an “unknown” such as COVID-19, we did want to reassure our customers that our extended North American presence will allow the continued servicing of customers of all sizes and in all locations.
While we do not know what the future holds related to the spread of Covid-19, we do know we are in this together, and it will be together that we work through these challenging times to keep the cogs of our economy turning.
As conditions continue to develop, we will keep our customers – many who we call friends, updated with the most recent information. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the latest updates.
Dave Miller
Managing Director
Nova Polymers, Inc.
Update 03/30/2020
CARES Act Small Business Guide
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn.
Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses that maintain their payroll during this emergency.
Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
The administration soon will release more details including the list of lenders offering loans under the program.
In the meantime, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals prepare to file for a loan.
Update 03/24/2020
Based on recent actions in PA and other states related to various “stay at home orders”, ISA (International Sign Association) recently urged all sign, graphics and visual communications companies in Pennsylvania to immediately contact the PA Department of Community and Economic Development to ask for a special exemption for your business.
ISA recommended the below:
If your company provides signage to any “life-sustaining business,” or is planning to, please cut-and-paste the below language – tailoring it for your specific business – and submit it to RA-dcexemption@pa.gov.
While this information was specific to PA, the required actions to gain an exemption for designation as an ESSENTIAL BUSINESS remains the same. For more information or questions, please contact ISA’s David Hickey.
SAMPLE LANGUAGE:
Pursuant to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s recent issuance of an emergency order for all “non-life-sustaining businesses” in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to close their physical locations, I am requesting that [INSERT YOUR COMPANY NAME] receive a special exemption from the state of Pennsylvania under the provision: “In extenuating circumstances, special exemptions will be granted to businesses that are supplying or servicing health care providers.”
[INSERT YOUR COMPANY NAME] is a sign, graphics and visual communications company that provides signage to “life-sustaining businesses,” including health care providers, restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, automotive parts, etc. The importance of signage that provides directions, information, warnings, and other visual communications is more urgent than ever, and we need to stay open to meet this critical and ever-expanding need.
I urge you to provide an exemption to [INSERT YOUR COMPANY NAME] because we support life-sustaining businesses.
Best Regards,
[INSERT YOUR COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE]
Nova is open for business and manufacturing our materials and equipment in our OH facility. We are continuing to stock our warehouses and have up to 6 months of high demand finished goods located in multiple distribution centers located across the U.S.
As conditions continue to develop, we will keep our customers – many who we call friends, updated with the most recent information. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for the most recent updates.
We are all in this together, and it will be together that we work through these challenging times.
Dave Miller
Managing Director
Nova Polymers, Inc.
Update 03/16/2020
Nova Polymers COVID-19 Preparedness Statement
-
- Have you surveyed your supply chain to ensure your supply of raw materials to manufacture and supply customers will not be interrupted?
It is our mission is to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of goods and services to customers regardless of any disaster either man-made or natural with minimal interruption or delay. To accomplish this mission, we have confirmed that all operations are performed efficiently with minimal disruption, especially during an emergency. We have previously developed Business Continuity Planning and programs to allow our organization to continue conducting its essential missions and functions under all threats and conditions. While the severity and consequences of an emergency cannot be predicted, effective contingency planning will minimize the impact on the Nova Polymers, Inc. missions, personnel, and facilities.
Our extended North American presence will allow the continued servicing of customers of all sizes and in all locations. With multiple distribution centers across three time zones, our trained sales consultants and support system will continue delivering the same great product without any interruptions for the foreseeable future.
-
- Do you source raw materials outside North America and in particular China and other Asian countries?
Nova Polymers does source certain goods from countries other than North America.
-
- Do you have contingency plans in place for those materials sourced from the above countries or other impacted countries including the transportation component?
Over the past 25 years, Nova has worked diligently to develop a multi-channel supply chain where raw materials are sourced from multiple providers that are geographically diverse. Our raw materials and finished goods are stored in two different distribution centers in Ohio. Finished goods are inventoried in Bryan OH, Fairfield NJ, Irving TX, and Santa Fe Springs CA.
Logistically, we have developed long relationships with multiple transportation providers both domestic and abroad.
-
- Has your company developed operational contingency plans related to possible labor interruptions resulting from COVID-19?
Nova Polymers has adhered to recommendations suggested by the CDC and WHO in regard to doing our part in limiting the spread of COVID-19. We have encouraged our employees to take precautions not just in the workplace but in their personal lives as well.
Our organization has worked diligently to develop cross-functional teams within our workplace. These efforts, in conjunction with our ISO 9001:2015 Certification, have ensured that employees are cross-trained in every aspect of our organization with the intent to ensure business continuity. We have proactive defined processes in place in the event we need employees to work from home to access our system, order materials, and provide customer support and administrative functions.
-
- Do you have a formalized system in place to promptly keep clients informed should a supply interruption manifest itself?
Nova Polymers, Inc. has established an effective Test, Training, and Exercise (TT&E) program to support the organization’s preparedness and validate the continuity capabilities and ability to perform essential functions during any emergency. The testing, training, and exercising of continuity capabilities is essential to demonstrating, assessing, and improving our ability to execute the continuity program, plans, and procedures to ensure minimal business disruption in an emergency.
Utilization of cloud-based ERP and CRM helps to ensure that accurate documentation is recorded and up to date regarding key contacts at each customer location in the event that there is anticipated or real disruption in our supply chain that could negatively impact our clients. The same procedures, processes, and tools that are utilized daily to engage our clients will be used in the event of any actual or anticipated business disruption.
Update 03/05/2020
Statement on COVID-19 and Business Continuity
As the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve within the United States and abroad, we want to assure our customers that Nova Polymers has taken all recommended precautions to combat spread within our organization. We have taken the precautions that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and encourage you and your business to also adopt these best practices.
Thanks to our business continuity plan and the absence of any raw materials being sourced from China, we are confident that we will keep delivering the same great product without any interruptions for the foreseeable future. While there are no guarantees when dealing with an “unknown” such as COVID-19, we did want to take the time to provide you with the actions we have taken to ensure, to the best of our abilities, that there will be no disruption of business continuity.
How Nova Polymers Prepares for Situations like COVID-19
In June of 2018, Nova Polymers embarked on the creation of a business continuity plan (BCP) that would ensure that in the event of a natural disaster (domestic or abroad), that both raw materials and finished goods would be readily available to our customers and our industry. This BCP is a 43-page document that outlines every process in our business – from procuring raw materials, manufacturing finished products and equipment, to packaging and shipping finished goods to our customers.
In 2019 Nova became an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company. This certification came by way of a third- party independent registrar that audited our processes and our BCP to ensure that not only were we manufacturing products that met consistent quality standards but also ensured the availability of finished goods to our customers and our industry in the event of business disruption. Over the past 25 years, Nova has worked diligently to develop a multi-channel supply chain where raw materials are sourced from multiple providers that are geographically diverse. Our raw materials and finished goods are stored in two different distribution centers in Ohio. Finished goods are inventoried in Bryan OH, Fairfield NJ, Irving TX, and Santa Fe Springs CA.
Today, we have up to 6 months of high demand finished goods located in multiple distribution centers located across the U.S.
Unfortunately, these circumstances cannot be controlled. What can be controlled is how we prepare for the unexpected. This blog post showcases how we dealt with the disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey, which demonstrated the collaboration and caring that our great industry exhibited – sign makers helping sign makers, or more simply put – people helping people. While we do not know what the future holds related to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, we do know that we will work through these uncertain times together.
Dave Miller
Managing Director
Nova Polymers, Inc.