The birthdays, anniversaries and graduations are still coming, quarantine or not. And you can still make them special. Local retailers have rushed to make accommodations in line with Gov. Northam’s temporary stay-at-home order. Some have set up online-ordering systems in record time. Others are taking orders by phone or email and personally delivering products themselves. Still others have curbside pickup with no-contact protocols. If you need a gift, give these independent shops some love. They can use your support now more than ever.
Covet
ICYMI: Covet’s shop went online several weeks ago. There are already more than 125 items listed—owner Autumn Clayton is adding more each and every day—with online orders shipped out via USPS. (Local delivery is another option within three days, as is curbside pickup on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon.) Fans of the boutique can also still do things “the old-fashioned way” by messaging, emailing or calling Clayton about items posted to Facebook or Instagram—like these customizable brass and iron cuffs, a poignant gift for this year’s graduating Class of 2020 with “2020 Strong” or a student’s initials stamped in. Even better, $5 of every cuff sold will go to Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen, and any online order of $25 or more scores you a free bottle of hand sanitizer while supplies last. // 5140 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Trade Roots
Trade roots is known for its sizable collection of global gifts; so sizable, in fact, that not everything in the shop’s inventory has made it into its online shop. To compensate, owner Lisa Ostroff is arranging shopping opportunities via Facetime, and also showing shoppers the latest and greatest via email—like decorative, hand-quilled paper on wood eggs from Vietnam; or hand-painted papier-mache eggs from India. Orders over $50 are delivered for free. Curbside pickup is otherwise available, and payment is taken over the phone, via Venmo or PayPal. Speaking of payment, here’s a warm and fuzzy for you: One Trade Roots customer purchased $1,300 worth of products that will be delivered to a shelter downtown. // 5852 Washington Blvd., Arlington
Urban Farmhouse
Urban Farmhouse has also turned to online sales for just about all of its items—with the exception of the new local, handmade ones that owner June Tait is adding daily. (The milk-bottle candles from Baltimore’s Milk Reclamation Barn remain a favorite.) All goods can be delivered for free, locally, within a day or two, depending on buyer availability, or picked up curbside on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon. // 5140 Wilson Blvd., Arlington