DISPATCHES FROM DAY 5 - WORKING FROM THE ANNEX

My name’s Linnea, and I’m the Retail and E-commerce manager at Tuck Shop Co. At Tuck Shop you can usually find me managing the inventory, updating the website, designing email campaigns, and coming up with creative ways to market our products. This means I’m ALWAYS at the store, so these few days have been a big adjustment.

I live in the Annex, a large neighbourhood in mid-town Toronto populated with a lot of coffee shops, specialty food markets, and a great range of restaurants. Many of these businesses are now closed, or have exclusively switched to take out. Thankfully, my go-to coffee spot Ezra’s Pound has stayed open to offer take away orders. There is no better caffeine boost in the city than their cappuccino!

Once I’m sufficiently caffeinated I head across the street to Bespoke Butcher. They source their meats exclusively from small Canadian farms, primarily based in Ontario. In addition to their great meat selection they also sell eggs, cheeses, dried pasta, and delicious frozen provisions. If your local grocery store is completely decimated these smaller shops will often carry comparable (and usually better tasting) options. So check them out!

With these essentials covered I usually try to rush home and get as much work done while the caffeine is still in effect. As a young person living in Toronto I have two roommates (and a cat) to contend with when it comes to being productive, and getting work finished. Although it’s sometimes distracting, I’m endlessly appreciative to them for their company. Friends and family have been key to keeping my spirit up during this time.

The rest of the day is dedicated to what I would usually be doing at Tuck Shop. Our online store is STILL OPEN so I’m working hard to ship out your orders, keep the website updated, and add new products as they arrive. If you feel like sending yourself a care package, our website is a great place to start. It will be promptly shipped to you, and now you’ll actually know the person who’s sending it!

Here are my picks for the items that will brighten this period of social distancing.

Cashmere Basket Weave Scarf 

This gorgeous extra large cashmere scarf can double as a shawl. The bright poppy colour is an amazing accessory to brighten up a darker winter wardrobe. Plus it's now on sale. This is the perfect item if you want to really treat yourself.

Discovery Collection Candle, Vita

Every Discovery Collection candle adds an air of calm to any space. In particular, the Vita candle conjures up scents of clean laundry, sweet figs, and a hint of cedar. If you're looking for a candle to freshen up your space, this is the one for you.

Levi's 501 Crop Jean

These are the perfect spring/summer jeans. Mid-rise waist and cropped length are super wearable, while the off white colour, and subtle distressing elevate it to a great fashion piece.  

 If you're in need of a retail pick me up small business are the best place to start. Let's shop local and support each other!