MAY 28 • 2020 | 87

including one for new grads.
“We thought, ‘
What do we 
have to lose?’
” Trepek said. 
“We’
re not making any profit 
off the masks — the profits go 
to charity —but people want 
them, and it keeps us in front 
of our customers’
 minds.”
Trepek is optimistic about 
the future. “We are definitely 
going to make it. People want 
to shop; that’
s the good thing,” 
she said. “But how we shop is 
going to be very different. We 
will do more by-appointment 
sessions with our customers 
and keep working through our 
social media.” 

JANITORIAL 
Deemed essential workers 
by Granholm, Jan-Pro in 
Southfield never had to close; 
however, a third of its custom-
ers did, according to owner 
Jared Rothberger. That left 
the company scrambling to 
increase revenue so it wouldn’
t 

have to reduce staff.
Late last year, the compa-
ny started a supply business, 
offering their customers and 
the public masks, gloves, toilet 
paper, paper towel and hand 
sanitizer, among other items. 
That business has taken off. 
“We did about $4,000 worth 
of business in November, 
compared to several hundred 
thousand in April,” Rothberger 
said. “That’
s helped us make 
payroll.”
As the economy in 
Michigan slowly begins to 
re-engage, Jan-Pro is sharing 
how use of its disinfectant 
spray EnviroShield can help 
slow the spread of COVID-
19, keeping employees and 
customers safe. EnviroShield 
eliminates 99.9% of bacteria 
and viruses on exposed sur-
faces in a building. It wraps 
around surfaces to hit hard-to-
reach areas, and has been used 
in hundreds of local facilities 

over the last several years, 
including childcare facilities, 
medical facilities and schools.
 Throughout the pandem-
ic, JAN-PRO has given free 
EnviroShield sprays for all 
police, fire and EMS vehi-
cles, precincts and fire sta-
tions. As part of the process, 
Rothberger was able to get 
behind the wheel of those 
first-responder vehicles for 
short drives. “I lived out my 
dream to drive a fire truck, 
police car and ambulance,” he 
said. “My 10-year-old self was 
so proud.”

REAL ESTATE
Dan Gutfreund of Signature 
Sotheby’
s in 
Birmingham 
has been selling 
real estate for a 
long time. Before 
COVID-19 hit, he 
was selling two 
or three homes 

a week. During the stay-at-
home order, he sold four 
homes total. Technology 
helped. Using MatterPort 3D 
technology, agents were able 
to give clients virtual homes 
tours. 
Whitmer allowed the real 
estate sector to relaunch with 
limits on May 7. Gutfreund 
said that was welcome news, 
although he and his team are 
having to adapt the way they 
sell homes to help slow the 
spread of the virus.
Now that people are once 
again able to walk through 
homes, changes had to be 
made. 
“We’
ve put sanitization 
stations in every one of the 
homes we’
re showing,” he 
said. The stations contain 
masks, booties and sanitiz-
ers. Showings are limited to 
four people and “perspective 
buyers are asked to touch 
nothing and maintain CDC 
social distancing standards,” 
he said.
Open houses are still 
not allowed, so technology 
will continue to play a big 
role, Gutfreund said. “We’
re 
doing virtual open houses on 
Facebook video, using Zoom 
and providing 3D tours online.”
He said his employees are 
going to continue working 
from home, and title compa-
nies and banks are allowing 
closings to take place online. 
“Health and safety remain top 
of mind,” he said.
He says the industry has a 
positive outlook for the future. 
“There is pent-up demand 
and interest rates and inven-
tory are at all-time low. This 
truly is a sellers’
 market. I 
think the market will snap 
back as soon as the governor 
relaxes the rules.” 

COURTESY OF EVENT BLISS

COURTESY OF JAN-PRO

Dan 
Gutfreund

Whitmer continues to allow 
different sectors of the 
economy to re-engage. Her 
stay-at-home order was 
set to expire May 28, and 
on May 26 she opened up 
retail and auto dealers by 
appointment only. 
To make transitioning 
easier, the Small Business 
Association of Michigan 
has developed resources to 
assist small businesses. 
“Getting back to work will 
require changes for small 
businesses that could be 
overwhelming,” said SBAM 
President Brian Calley in a 
statement. 

The “Get Back to Work 
Safely Guide” includes tips 
and resources for issues 
that small businesses may 
face, including revising 
employee policies and 
employee handbooks, 
as well as talking with 
employees about new 
expectations. The guide also 
provides checklists on PPE 
use, cleaning and health 
screenings, as well as 
other considerations small 
businesses may need to 
take on in their facilities. 
The guide is available at 
sbam.org/Resources/COVID-
19-Resources.

Getting Back to Business