It’s closed to the public, but the sewing machines are still humming at the Stitch It store at Lime Ridge Mall.
The Mountain outlet is one of about 20 Stitch It stores across the country that have re-opened recently to make protective masks for the public during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We ‘re doing about 180 masks a day at Lime Ridge,” said Jennifer Baird, chief operating officer at the Burlington-based family business. “We’ve had 47,000 orders as of April 11.”
The washable masks are made of polyester poplin.
“They are not N-95 grade but are superior to cotton because they are water droplet resistant,” Baird said.
She noted all their 65 stores were closed March 12 affecting 400 people.
But rather than seeing those people and sewing machines remain idle, Baird said the clothing alteration and repair company decided it would make protective masks for the community.
The move forced the company to change the way it was doing business.
“We don’t usually buy fabric,” Baird noted. “We had to create patterns. It’s very different from what we do every day.”
Baird said their stores at Lime Ridge Mall plus stores in Oakville, Toronto and London began making masks on April 2.
Since then 15 more outlets have turned their sewing machines back on.
“We are hoping to open the (remaining stores) this week,” said Baird, who added they are also applying for the 75 percent wage subsidy that was approved by Parliament on the weekend.
Baird said three employees at Lime Ridge Mall are wearing masks and sitting at sewing machines far apart and the company is only allowing three staff to work at the stores at any one time.
Baird said she doesn’t know yet when the store at Eastgate Square will reopen and begin making masks.
She noted it all depends on the availability of the staff who have been busy looking after their families over the past several weeks.
None of their employees have reported having the coronavirus, she said.
The masks can be purchased online at stitchit.com.
Baird said they sell for $10 plus tax for a pair and volume discounts are available.
“We’re not making any profit on this,” Baird said.
She noted some of the big orders in the Hamilton area have come from the Villa Italia retirement residence and the Thrive Group that operates St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke and Idlewyld Manor on the Mountain.
Baird said she and her father Alain are collecting the masks from each outlet and taking them to their head office on the South Service Road where three or four staff are packing them for delivery.
It’s closed to the public, but the sewing machines are still humming at the Stitch It store at Lime Ridge Mall.
The Mountain outlet is one of about 20 Stitch It stores across the country that have re-opened recently to make protective masks for the public during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We ‘re doing about 180 masks a day at Lime Ridge,” said Jennifer Baird, chief operating officer at the Burlington-based family business. “We’ve had 47,000 orders as of April 11.”
The washable masks are made of polyester poplin.
“They are not N-95 grade but are superior to cotton because they are water droplet resistant,” Baird said.
She noted all their 65 stores were closed March 12 affecting 400 people.
But rather than seeing those people and sewing machines remain idle, Baird said the clothing alteration and repair company decided it would make protective masks for the community.
The move forced the company to change the way it was doing business.
“We don’t usually buy fabric,” Baird noted. “We had to create patterns. It’s very different from what we do every day.”
Baird said their stores at Lime Ridge Mall plus stores in Oakville, Toronto and London began making masks on April 2.
Since then 15 more outlets have turned their sewing machines back on.
“We are hoping to open the (remaining stores) this week,” said Baird, who added they are also applying for the 75 percent wage subsidy that was approved by Parliament on the weekend.
Baird said three employees at Lime Ridge Mall are wearing masks and sitting at sewing machines far apart and the company is only allowing three staff to work at the stores at any one time.
Baird said she doesn’t know yet when the store at Eastgate Square will reopen and begin making masks.
She noted it all depends on the availability of the staff who have been busy looking after their families over the past several weeks.
None of their employees have reported having the coronavirus, she said.
The masks can be purchased online at stitchit.com.
Baird said they sell for $10 plus tax for a pair and volume discounts are available.
“We’re not making any profit on this,” Baird said.
She noted some of the big orders in the Hamilton area have come from the Villa Italia retirement residence and the Thrive Group that operates St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke and Idlewyld Manor on the Mountain.
Baird said she and her father Alain are collecting the masks from each outlet and taking them to their head office on the South Service Road where three or four staff are packing them for delivery.
It’s closed to the public, but the sewing machines are still humming at the Stitch It store at Lime Ridge Mall.
The Mountain outlet is one of about 20 Stitch It stores across the country that have re-opened recently to make protective masks for the public during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We ‘re doing about 180 masks a day at Lime Ridge,” said Jennifer Baird, chief operating officer at the Burlington-based family business. “We’ve had 47,000 orders as of April 11.”
The washable masks are made of polyester poplin.
“They are not N-95 grade but are superior to cotton because they are water droplet resistant,” Baird said.
She noted all their 65 stores were closed March 12 affecting 400 people.
But rather than seeing those people and sewing machines remain idle, Baird said the clothing alteration and repair company decided it would make protective masks for the community.
The move forced the company to change the way it was doing business.
“We don’t usually buy fabric,” Baird noted. “We had to create patterns. It’s very different from what we do every day.”
Baird said their stores at Lime Ridge Mall plus stores in Oakville, Toronto and London began making masks on April 2.
Since then 15 more outlets have turned their sewing machines back on.
“We are hoping to open the (remaining stores) this week,” said Baird, who added they are also applying for the 75 percent wage subsidy that was approved by Parliament on the weekend.
Baird said three employees at Lime Ridge Mall are wearing masks and sitting at sewing machines far apart and the company is only allowing three staff to work at the stores at any one time.
Baird said she doesn’t know yet when the store at Eastgate Square will reopen and begin making masks.
She noted it all depends on the availability of the staff who have been busy looking after their families over the past several weeks.
None of their employees have reported having the coronavirus, she said.
The masks can be purchased online at stitchit.com.
Baird said they sell for $10 plus tax for a pair and volume discounts are available.
“We’re not making any profit on this,” Baird said.
She noted some of the big orders in the Hamilton area have come from the Villa Italia retirement residence and the Thrive Group that operates St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke and Idlewyld Manor on the Mountain.
Baird said she and her father Alain are collecting the masks from each outlet and taking them to their head office on the South Service Road where three or four staff are packing them for delivery.