Covid-19 Updates

March 2021 - COVID-19 is still making life miserable in 2021

March, 2021

Spring has sprung. Outdoors projects are starting as people start to look forward to a summer with more freedoms and less uncertainties. Vaccines have started becoming more readily available and everyone is heading to their local lumber supply shop to get what they need. What are they finding? Low supplies and sticker shock! Why is this happening? We recently received the following letter that sums it up pretty well!


Dear Valued [...] Customer,

Looking back, it was exactly one year ago this week that the world started to turn upside down with mandatory business closures, essential business designations, and spiking COVID-19 cases across the globe. Throughout all of this disruption in 2020 and 2021, [our] company continued to quickly adapt to the market conditions by increasing our inventory positions, while maintaining our marketing and service activity. In general, we have done our very best to continue to be a competent and reliable partner to the professional building products and woodworking industry.

The full impact of supply chain disruptions and pricing volatility due to the pandemic continues to evolve. From the smallest to the largest of our supply base, we have experienced historically uncommon double digit price increases and on-going product availability disruptions. Our supply base has been dealing with COVID-19 shipment delays, cost increases on steel, chemicals, general transportation, exorbitant container charges and corrugated price increases. With very few exceptions, we continue to see multiple price increases from our suppliers of hardware, wood panels, MDF, fasteners, sinks, laminate, and coatings – basically everything we offer.

The speed and regularity with which we are experiencing high single and double digit cost increases without notice from our supply base is forcing us to pass on these increases more quickly than ever before. This means that we are not currently in a position to hold prices for the time being. There continues to be many upward adjustments made in all categories of the products that we offer. Additionally, we have been forced to address transportation cost increases as well.

This inflationary development isn’t good for planning and we apologize in advance for any increases that you didn’t or don’t know about. We truly hope that this position can soften over time and that we can get back to a more moderate price increase model.

We appreciate your business and will do everything in our power to keep you supplied with product at a fair market value.

Sincerely,


The [...] Sales Management Team

This is just one example from one of our suppliers. We have received others as well. What this means is that we cannot promise that we will have everything in stock when you come to see us, and oftentimes what we do have in stock will be snatched up quickly! Also, our wood prices may often change week-to-week depending on availability and what we have to pay to bring it in. While we can absorb small price fluctuations, we are a small business that is struggling to survive like everyone else.

What we can promise is that we will do our best to maintain the lowest prices possible while providing you with the excellent service and wide selection of hardwoods you are used to at the Tree House Hardwoods & Millshop. We appreciate your continued support, and look forward to seeing you (with masks) in our retail store soon!

Lucas Jenson & the rest of the Tree House Hardwoods team.

August 2020 - Visiting our store in person

We are happy to welcome you into the store for in-person shopping!

Please keep the following in mind if you plan to visit:


  • No one is allowed to enter the store if they are displaying symptoms of Covid-19

  • Do not enter the store if, within the past 14 days, you have been in contact with someone who:

    • was confirmed to have the virus OR

    • was showing symptoms of the virus (See below for a list of symptoms provided by the CDC)


  • As of August 1, 2020 cloth face coverings are required in Vermont when in public places. See the official notice here

    • Face covering must cover the mouth and nose at all times

    • Disposable face coverings are available for one-time use just inside our front door. If you do not have your own, please use one of ours


  • When in the store, please maintain at least a 6’ distance between yourself and others at all times

    • If there are a lot of people in the store and it will be difficult for you to stay 6’ apart, please wait for others to leave


  • We are only accepting credit or debit cards for payment at this time and ask that you stay 6’ back when paying.

CDC List of Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

From the CDC website, 17 August 2020