Open Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays from 11-3 for:
– Contactless curbside pick-up by ordering ahead at malenkaoriginals.com
– Doorstep Consultations (you stand outside, we show you any colours, samples etc, from the doorway. Purchases can be made on the spot.)
– One customer in-store at a time (please see below for protocols)
– Delivery Options still available
We realise some customers feel more comfortable not coming into the store at this point. And we also realise some customers want to come into the store to have a closer look.
We want to accommodate everyone’s comfort levels, so we’re continually trying to change what we do in the safest way possible. For the foreseeable future, we’re offering the following ways for you to get the products and help you need:
Contactless Curbside Pick-up
As we’ve already been doing through the pandemic, you can order online at malenkaoriginals.com, select curbside pick-up at checkout, and come pick up your order during the hours of Tues, Thurs & Sat from 11-3.
Your order will be ready on the next pick-up day from when you ordered. For example, if you order on a Wednesday, your order will be ready on Thursday by 11am.
We can also accommodate same-day orders. So, if you order on a Thursday at 11:30am, you can come pick up your order before 3pm. We just ask that you give us a call to let us know you’re coming, as it can sometimes be busy during shop hours.
Doorstep Consultations
If you saw our post from June, we’ve been trying out this concept for the last month, and it’s been working really well. A table is propped up at the door; you can come speak to us and still stay outside. We can bring you any samples you’d like to see, and answer any questions you have.
Our pinpad reaches all the way to the door, so you can also complete your transaction without coming in.
Of course the weather is beautiful right now, and we know this is only a temporary measure, but we’ll keep doing this as long as we can (in the blistering heat, we’ve a few times had to keep the door shut to have the A/C on, so if you see the door closed, just come up and we’ll prop the door open to speak to you.)
In-store Visits
We’re now welcoming one customer into the store at a time on Tues, Thurs & Sat 11-3 with the following protocols:
- A mask must be worn at all times that covers your nose and mouth
- Clean hands with sanitizer at the door (provided)
- If you need to use your cell phone to show us pictures, please use sanitizer and baby wipes provided to clean phone at the front door.
- Please keep visits brief, especially if other customers are waiting.
Delivery options are still available on our online store. Shipping is free for orders over $100, and $10 for orders under.
Delivery
Workshops
Many customers have been asking us when we’re going to be starting up workshops again. Unfortunately, we don’t know.
Even as Ottawa moves to Stage 3, the rules are still very clear for physical distancing. Even if we could have a group of workshop participants in the store, everyone would still be required to keep 2 metres apart. With the size of our store, we could never accommodate more than a couple people.
Added to that are some additional complexities. Our most popular workshop is 4 hours, and even if we shortened this significantly, all signs are pointing to exposure time + being indoors as significant issues with the spread of COVID-19. For the safety of everyone, only short visits in enclosed spaces are advisable. Plus, we need to think of things like sharing bathrooms, sharing high-touch workshop surfaces, and cost-efficiency of classes with significantly lower participants.
As it appears we’re all in this for the long-haul, the most practical solution is to turn towards an online workshop model. Later this summer, I’m going to be once again working with Hannah Jong, who helped film and produce our YouTube videos a few years ago. We’re hoping to make some affordable, step-by-step videos that anyone can follow from anywhere with limited supplies (or, we’ll have workshop kits available to pick-up if you don’t have any materials).
We’re hoping for these classes to be available this fall, to give you something fun and creative to do from home as we head into winter. Please keep an eye out here for updates, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for announcements.
Thank you.
Thank you for your incredible patience, understanding and support. We know how challenging these times have been. Everything takes a bit longer, and nothing is the same as it once was.
The last few months have been like a roller coaster ride, and my overriding instinct is to proceed slowly, take every day at a time, remain as flexible as possible, while trying to find a balance between the myriad complex factors that play into everyday life now.
We hope you’ve been doing okay, and finding some solace in this beautiful summer. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@malenka.ca.
As ever, stay safe & stay creative.
Katrina x
