As non-essential businesses started to close their doors to the public and in-person traffic dwindled to a halt, Studio Slant launched an idea — porch parties.
Porch Parties are a way to have a hands-free celebration. Even though people are abiding by the rules of self-quarantine, people are still having birthdays, anniversaries and other events that need to be celebrated.
After nine years of selling gifts in Owensboro the women of Slant couldn’t let their town stop celebrating life events and friendships even if they now had to be from afar.
Mary Katherine Maddox, a Slant team member for seven years said, “we knew our customers would be supportive because they are the best in the whole world. We just needed to make sure we could provide the same service safely.”
They launched into action and put together the idea of Porch Parties — celebrations delivered to your door without touching hands, just touching hearts.
Studio Slant owner, Christy Chaney has been making all of the deliveries to keep contact to a minimum, while the other team members are running the social media and taking orders.
“It is important to me that the Slant Sisters stay safe and with their families,” she said. “With one person doing all of the running it keeps exposure very low, plus I love seeing everyone through their front door.”
The recipients of Porch Parties seem to be having a good time also, “It made me feel so excited, so happy, so loved,” said Amy Harper, a Porch Party recipient.
“This is so hard on all of us, and a happy porch party was a perfect surprise,” Harper said.
Delivering gifts across Owensboro and Daviess County has been a fun experience for Studio Slant.
“We have always gift wrapped and delivered for free, we just needed to add some Lysol,” Maddox said.
To keep themselves and others safe they have implemented some strategies to help keep exposure low.
Each day Chaney goes to the Studio Slant and fills the orders, customizing, wrapping and handwriting all the cards, and gifts are then delivered to the porch of the receiver. Upon delivery, each gift is placed on the porch, sprayed with Lysol and then she rings the doorbell and leaves so social distancing protocols are maintained every step of the way. Hand sanitizer is used before and after every stop.
“The jug of hand sanitizer that travels in my car is a gallon size,” Chaney said. “I am hoping we have so many deliveries that I run out.”
Some collaborations have even come from these tiny porch step events.
SIP, a local wine bar also began delivering packaged items and found themselves quickly involved with Slant’s Porch Parties.
SIP owner Karen Hobelmann said, “It’s been uplifting and inspiring to see our town mobilize and support each other.”
“Studio Slant quickly came up with an amazing uplifting concept that brightens people’s days,” she said. “SIP has several people reach out daily for items to be included in the porch parties and I am so grateful to be included.”
Chaney and Hobelmann have echoing sentiments about the current times and the stress that has been put on small businesses in the area, but both know their small business and the community they are privileged to serve will be up and running soon and the camaraderie they have learned through this trial will make everyone stronger.
“I will have a renewed and refreshed vision of our wonderful community knowing we got through this together,” Hobelmann said.
Chaney said each day brings a new vision of the town she has lived in her entire life.
‘Whether its landmarks I never knew existed, a scavenger hunt through the farmland of our county or just the smiles and waves I see when I leave that wrapped gift of appreciation on the doorstep it is a truly exciting time to rediscover Owensboro and all the wonderful people that make up our town,” she said.
If you would like to schedule a Porch Party for someone you can contact Studio Slant at 270-684-3570 or on any of their social media accounts.
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