Shop Updates for July
It’s been quite a while since we closed our shop to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this month, we’re very excited to announce that we are finally ready to welcome you back to 63 Dickson Street! As convenient as online shopping is, we know nothing beats seeing all the beautiful stationery products in-person and being able to get your questions answered right away. With a few adjustments to our store and our operations, we’re now able to re-open the space for visitors to come in and discover new writing products or stock up on old favourites.
UPDATED STORE HOURS
You’ll notice that our shop hours have changed a bit from earlier in the year. We have reduced our retail hours between Tuesday to Friday to 11:00 - 16:00, and on Saturdays to 10:00 - 15:00. We hope that this will allow us adequate time to give a good clean up of all the surfaces at the end of each day so that our store can remain safe for both you and our team. In addition to our previous Sunday closure, we’ll also be closed on Monday in order to have one dedicated day to handle our online orders.
These hours will also serve as our curbside pick-up hours going forward. Of course, if you require a pick-up outside of those hours, we are more than happy to pre-arrange an alternative time. Simply reach out to us via email or phone.
NEW SAFETY POLICIES
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and maintain a safe environment for everyone who enters Phidon, we do request that all customers follow a few simple guidelines during their visit.
If you are feeling unwell, we kindly ask that you postpone your visit to another day until you feel better. We are always happy to assist you remotely via email, phone or video chat.
Up to TWO VISITORS will be permitted into the shop at any given time. Many of you will know that our store is a cozy, intimate space, and while that is lovely under regular circumstances, it does make it challenging to maintain social distancing. Therefore, we ask that you wait patiently outside the shop if we are at capacity.
Masks/face coverings will be required for all visitors.
A hand sanitation station has been set up at the doors. We ask all visitors to please sanitize their hands upon entry.
We know that these policies may be inconvenient for some, but we hope everyone will understand that your (and our team’s) health and safety is of utmost concern for all of us at Phidon.
CHANGES TO VIRTUAL SHOPPING APPOINTMENTS
With the reopening of our shop and updates to retail hours, we have to make some changes to our virtual shopping appointments service in order to ensure we can provide the best customer care for everyone near and far. Don’t worry, for those shopping remotely, we still want to be able to assist you one-on-one!
As the previous virtual shopping appointment hours conflict with our new shop hours, we will no longer be offering pre-bookings through our webstore. Instead, customers who wish to receive remote assistance via video chat should email us directly to arrange a time for an appointment outside of our shop hours. We are still happy to provide product comparisons and shopping suggestions during a one-on-one Zoom or FaceTime call with you. Don’t forget, you may also give us a call or contact us via our various social media accounts for quick assistance at any time.
NEW ARRIVALS AT PHIDON
It’s been a busy few weeks at the store with new stationery goodies arriving weekly. Quarterly limited editions like Field Notes “Heavy Duty” Notebook Sets and Blackwing Volume 3 “Ravi Shankar” Pencils are finally here, which means we are officially in the summer season. We’re especially excited for the Blackwing pencils, as this release celebrates the amazing Ravi Shankar, who helped to popularize classical Indian music in the West and was amongst the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Besides, who can resist such a cheerful, sunny yellow design? If you’re unfamiliar with the wonderful music of Ravi, we encourage you to check out this Ravi Shankar Primer playlist from The Guardian. It’s sure to be a deeply moving musical journey.
The new Blackwing Vol. 3 “Ravi Shankar” pencils are definitely one of our favourite editions to date!
Last month saw Laika Notebooks making an exciting return to our store. This design-focused notebook brand from Mexico offer lots to love. In addition to their many collaborations with international artists and designers, they also offer lots of brilliantly hued notebooks that are perfect for summer journaling. Design aficionados will appreciate the limited edition, architecture-inspired sets (1, 2, 3) originally made for the print gallery Desplans. Gardening buffs will swoon over the fabulous botanical motifs of the original Rococo series. Of course, no avid globetrotter can resist the bombastic tropical colours of the new Rococo series. With travel restrictions here to stay for the next little while, we’re glad to have these exotic notebooks to satiate our hunger for exploration.
Fans of Sailor fountain pens and their amazing nibs will be happy to hear that it’s now more convenient than ever before to bring along these fantastic pens on your next big adventure. The new Sailor Professional Gear Slim Mini Fountain Pens join our line up of compact pens—fitting comfortably into your pocket when not in use, but extending into a full-sized fountain pen once the cap is posted. We’re especially fond of the Rose Taupe and Slate Green finishes, as these are not colours one commonly finds in new pen releases.
These pens arrived just in time for a big restock of inks at our shop, including those from Colorverse and Pilot Iroshizuku. Offering a rich variety of inks with vibrant colours, gorgeous shading and spectacular sheen, we’re certain everyone will find something to love from one of these brands. Colours like Brunch Date (a soft coral-rose), Horizon (a cheerful sky-blue) and Chiku-rin (a brilliant bamboo-green) will be perfect for summer correspondence and art journaling. If you’re not ready to commit to a full-sized bottle of ink, both Colorverse and Pilot offer mini-bottles of their inks so that you can test out a new colour on the wild side before going all-in.
It’s never too early to start tracking upcoming appointments and plans! Leuchtturm1917 planners are available in many colours and layouts, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your needs.
If you’re an eager beaver who can’t wait to get started with setting out your goals and visualizing plans for 2021, know that we at Phidon have your back. Planners for 2021 are starting to trickle in, and first one in the shop, as always, are Leuchtturm1917 agendas. Choose from a variety of layouts and sizes to suit your needs, from B5 Monthly Planners to A5 18-Month Academic Planners, and more. Of course, this is just the start. In the coming months, we’re expecting the arrival of other popular planner products including the ever coveted Hobonichi planners and beloved Midori Diaries. Make sure you follow our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest updates!
With so many new stationery goodies, we’re sure you’ll be eager to make a visit very soon. We want to thank everyone for their kind patience as we continue to adjust our store operations in accordance with the latest public health guidelines. Your feedback in how we can better accommodate your needs and improve your experience is always welcomed. We can’t wait to welcome you back to 63 Dickson Street and for our Phidon Family to catch up with everyone. See you soon at Phidon Pens!