For today’s Q&A with a local business navigating COVID-19, we hear from Adam Skalman, vice president of sales at The Shade Store. The business at Elm and Main Streets is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Here’s our exchange.
Inside The Shade Store at 1 Elm St. in New Canaan. Credit: Michael Dinan
New Canaanite: The Shade Store’s opening at Main and Elm turned out to coincide with the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency. What has this been like for you?
Adam Skalman: Our experience has been like so many across the world—a renewed sense of community, social partnership and unified purpose. We are so lucky to be a part of the New Canaan neighborhood, and so many areas like it across the country, where local businesses and residents work together to create a healthy and safe environment during this stressful time.
Many people are spending a lot more time at home and appear to be getting some long-planned home improvement projects done. What sort of demand are you seeing for Shade Store curtains, blinds, draperies and other products and services?
We are definitely seeing increased demand as people spend more time at home, but also a new emphasis on creating spaces that are sustainable and healthy. We offer a wide variety of home healthy materials and options—all part of our Refresh Collection.
What is the The Shade Store experience typically like, and how is it different for your customers, given the COVID-related restrictions?
The safety of our customers and teams is our number one priority, but we are still able to create a great customer experience either in person or at home. For customers looking to shop in person, our showroom is open by appointment. For customers who want to shop from home, we are offering video consultations, which is new for us but proving to be a really popular option.
What is your message to the community?
We are happy to be “new” New Canaanites and look forward to meeting everyone soon: in the showroom, out in the neighborhood or virtually.