Doorstep deliveries helping bridge pandemic gap, support local businesses
When she opened her mailbox, Amber Jess was surprised and delighted to find a package from a childhood friend.
Jess, who lives in Brooklyn Corner, N.S., had been looking forward to an upcoming get-together with her friend, who is from Halifax. But with the recent province-wide shutdown in Nova Scotia, the brunch was off the table. Instead, she sent Jess a sympathy card, sharing her deep regret at not meeting.
“It was fun to receive her humour in the mail if we can’t be together in person,” says Jess.
Mona Pinder, from Calgary, also knows all about connecting with her local friends during COVID-19. She shared some of her tips for making the best of things while living the lockdown life to her childhood best friend, Jennifer Williams Saklofske of Kentville, N.S.
In NON-COVID times, Pinder and her husband host an annual Christmas cocktail party with dozens of people. Knowing this couldn’t happen, last year Pinder instead created a virtual event for her local friends. She sent around a menu of four different cocktails and asked her guests to choose their favourite. She created a party in a box, included the cocktail ingredients and other party treats, then personally delivered them to each of her guests. Everything she purchased came from local businesses.
Some had their drinks together over video conferencing, while others posted photographs to the party page, says Pinder.
“Local businesses are a critical piece of our lives,” she says. “When they are vibrant, the community is vibrant.”
TOGETHER WHILE APART
It’s important, throughout the pandemic, to keep connecting with friends.
“We are social beings,” says Bello Day Spa owner and master esthetician Carrie Faulkner in Bedford, N.S.
People sometimes just want to be heard, or maybe they need a laugh because their days are feeling long. They may just want to feel like they’re part of something, says Faulkner.
“COVID has a lot of people down and we need to keep our mental health up. I know, personally, I’ve had days where I can’t get anything accomplished because I’m feeling down and overwhelmed and I can’t see people outside my family. It gets hard. This is hard,” she says.
Sending a little gift shows that you care, and it’s an amazing way to connect, says Georgina Bassett, owner of the digitally-based gift delivery company, The Thoughtful Giver, serving P.E.I.
Bassett knows all about this. Since the start of the pandemic, her business has increased by 300 per cent. She’s filled requests from all over the world, delivering hundreds of baskets to Islanders for all occasions, including those who are self-isolating, students, patients in the hospital, employer thank-yous and even little things to show receivers that someone cares for them.
Not only are these deliveries a way to connect with friends and loved ones, but it’s a great way to support local businesses.
“They could order from Amazon, but they choose us,” says Bassett.
“We care about their story. We care about why they are giving, what they are giving and who is receiving their gift. When people order from us, they know it’s local and personalized. You can’t get that level of care from Amazon.”
Faulkner says she supports many small businesses because she knows first-hand the appreciation behind each sale.
“It makes me feel I helped out a friend, not a big CEO who will get through this pandemic. Support them when you can! It’s honestly a win-win for everyone,” says Faulkner.
Supporting any business that’s a part of your community, at any time, is important to keep local talent employed and contributing to the local economy, says Steve Davis, general manager and buyer for the Flower Studio in St. John’s.
“When clients still buy products or want gift certificates, it honestly helps more than they realize. It keeps me afloat when trying to juggle home and business bills,” says Faulkner.
IDEAS FOR DELIVERIES FOR FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR Flowers
Flowers have always been the go-to gift for expressing emotion and sentiment, especially for special occasions and at difficult times, says Davis.
One day, during the Nova Scotia lockdown, Halifax resident Colleen O’dea had flowers delivered to the doorsteps of all her friends as a pick-meup.
“We really need to check in with people on a regular basis. One text or phone call can truly make the difference,” she says.
Over the past year, Davis has seen many customers purchase small bouquets or little arrangements to leave at a loved one’s doorsteps, as O’dea did, simply as a way to stay connected with those that may feel isolated or alone, showing love and providing support.
Floral demand globally currently exceeds supply partially
because this trend has been worldwide and ongoing now for some time, he says.
Gift Baskets
Several businesses, like the Thoughtful Giver, curate themed baskets featuring local products and produce.
“Safely delivering a gift, saying hello and checking in on our Island community is what makes our service so valuable during the pandemic,” says Bassett.
Fruit Baskets
Rhonda Morse of Royal Lepage Atlantic in New Minas, N.S. has been delivering fruit baskets with wine or beer to her clients during the pandemic.
If she has the time, she makes them up herself, but generally orders them from local markets, where she can customize her order and do a curbside pick-up.
Then, she adds in wine or Corona, depending on the client. “Don’t forget to add the lime,” she says.
Food Trays
There have been many times when people out of province have not been able to join loved ones for a big event or celebration and end up having to plan a virtual party.
In these situations, they call upon businesses like Cured Creations in Charlottetown, P.E.I. to deliver food trays, mostly as a surprise, says coowner, Helena Wood. Cured Creations has charcuterie kits that people can make their own or come already set up.
THINGS TO DO TOGETHER VIRTUALLY WITH FRIENDS Spa Nights
At Bello Day Spa, Faulkner began offering online facial parties over Zoom where she walks participants through the facial, step-by-step.
Beforehand, Faulkner puts together facial kits, offers curbside pick up, and then provides an online link for the party.
“It’s actually so much fun and it’s more personable because they can actually talk and ask questions, laugh, and they get to experience the product with me. I thoroughly enjoy these parties,” says Faulkner.
Beer and Wine Taste Testings
Several local wineries are offering virtual taste testing evenings for groups of friends.
Rob Baker, from Coldbrook, N.S., is doing this with two friends. Through Boxing Rock Brewery in Shelburne, N.S., Baker and his friends signed up for their Beer 101 course. Upon registering, the beer is shipped to you, which Baker then sent on to his friends in Ontario so they could virtually do the course together.
Virtual Happy Hour
Since the start of the pandemic, Karen Pollock, from Kentville, N.S., and her friends have been having a virtual Friday night happy hours to keep in touch with each other and have something to look forward to each week.
Pollock delivered a bottle of wine to the doorsteps of her local girlfriends, but also shipped some worldwide to other friends.
“This lockdown has brought us closer even if we can’t see each other, we can still meet for drinks online all the time,” says Pollock.
Food Testing
Besides doing virtual cocktail hours and wine tastings, Jackie Herbert, owner of Hop Sip Swirl Tasting Tours Prince Edward Island, offers a one-hour virtual P.E.I. potato farm experience that includes all things potato, delivered to your door. It includes questions and answers with potato farmers, as well as a cooking demonstration of a potato pizza with Nimrods’ Pizzeria in Charlottetown.
Other online events
There are a plethora of other events that can be done virtually with friends that help to support local businesses, whether it’s finding a make-up artist to teach new applications or purchasing sign making or craft kits for friends to assemble online.
Reach out to your favourite local businesses to ask them how you can support them while supporting your friends and loved ones at the same time.