I think we can all agree, 2020 wasn't a great year.

For House of Thol it all started out sunny enough: with a well received presentation at Passagen Cologne (<click>); The launch of our Wren & Kiwi Bamboo series for Ay Illuminate in Paris (<see all here>); being portrayed on video for ABN AMRO (<result here>); a once again great Object Rotterdam (<more here>); with us shortlisted for the MKB Export Award (<woohoo!>); and getting ready to participate at Masterly Milano during the Salone Del Mobile in Spring.

The year seemed to find its groove back for us by the end of spring.
​
Kicked off with virtually receiving the MKB Export Award from Minister Kaag in a video-call (<read all about it here>); which got us in the newspaper (<see here>); an overwhelming interest in our new Patera Magnus bowls (<after this publication>); the taping of an episode about Artists and Corona in our community (<watch show here>); the placement of a new Evolution bathtub (<one of these>); our first printed catalogue (<more here>); and our participation in ShowUP at the Brabanthallen (<click>).
​
But the good times didn't last: the second wave hit as we were disassembling our fair-stand in Den Bosch in late September, and we were back in uncertainty about what the rest of the year would bring and if any of the all-important fall fairs would be able to take place (Nope.).
We're back in the harshest lockdown we've had, with the hospitals drowning in patients and a drap Holiday season.

This didn't turn out to be the year it promised to be in those happy months in the 'Before'.

It feels like we've been trying to squeeze in working hours ever since the first lock-down, with never quite enough time to finish any to-do list or produce enough terra-cotta bowls (<click>).

Yet in the midst of an extremely stressful year, we've very much been the lucky ones: thus far we have remained healthy, as have our loved ones. 
​We are fortunate to live and work in green and spacious surroundings that we don't necessarily need to leave, and have kids who are young enough to adapt to a changing situation.

With the new year around the corner, we're about to update the shipping costs calculator in our webshop.
We've already listed all the new shipping rates on the page FAQ | Shipping, so feel free to check them out there (<click>).

As always, the shipping company slightly upped the prices, to cover for higher costs. Most notably, all parcels shipped to the UK are now listed as a world-shipment, and are subject to a surcharge per Kilogram.

This lock-down will be tough for many shops, but especially for the independent concept stores.
They rely on the Holiday period for much of their yearly revenue and are exactly the shops who often source a large portion of their collection directly from designers and makers.

If we were to lose those outlets, it is not only a shame for customers and city centres, but also for many independent Dutch Designers and small brands.

​The situation is forcing us to order our Holiday gifts online. A landscape that has been largely taken over by a few inescapable huge players.
Instead of turning to one of those large warehouse-webshops, check out if your local concept store offers the opportunity to shop online.

Not all shops had a chance to invest in an online platform, so we went ahead and looked into the businesses on our store-locator to see how you can still support these entrepreneurs.
​Not on this list? Get in touch, we're happy to add you!

Leeuwarden
De Pluymgraaff
No webshop, but possibilities if you get in touch <more here>

Leeuwarden
Fries Museum
<Webshop> but with very limited collection

Arnhem
Bos en Heij Store
<Click for webshop> (sustainable delivery within Arnhem)

Arnhem
First Eet
Open for take-away <Click for webshop> (food & non-food)

Nijmegen
Make my Day
<Click for webshop> (sustainable delivery with bike-courier)

Maastricht
Wonderwoud
<Click for webshop> (giftcards only, for now)

Roermond
Hej Store & More
Get in touch! Local delivery <Read more here>

Berkel-Enschot
Miss Flowers by Han
order via e-mail or telephone, local delivery <read more here>

Den Bosch
OAK
<webshop> free local delivery & pick-up possibilities

Eindhoven
Kazerne
<click for webshop> (limited collection)

Amsterdam
.Wen
get in touch for personal gift service <read more here>

Amsterdam
Het Faire Oosten
<click for webshop> (bike delivery within Amsterdam)

Amsterdam
VU Boekhandel
<visit webshop> VU branded products + books only, for now

Haarlem
Klavertje Vijf
<visit webshop> Flowers only, for now

Haarlem
Dennis Flowers
<visit webshop> Flowers only, for now

Haarlem
Pluk 'n Bloom
<visit webshop> Flowers only, for now

Hilversum
Hessing Flowers
<visit webshop> flowers only

Utrecht
Daens Greenhouse
nothing yet - but get in touch and who knows... <visit website>

Middelburg
Plantaardig Middelburg
Get in touch via Instagram or e-mail <read more here>

Delft
Groene Vingers
<visit webshop> (gift cards only, for now)

Delft
Kek Delft
Open for take-away (food & coffee only) <read more here>

Den Haag
Edwin Pelser
<visit webshop> (personal delivery in 070 & 020)

Dordrecht
Villa Augustus
Open for take-away <visit website>

Can't get your online shopping done at one of the stores? Please turn to the independent designers and makers who can also use your support. Check out their work at the <'Get it at the Creatives' Gift Guide>.

Note: obviously the mail delivery system is completely overloaded at this point, so if you order anything online, do it sooner, rather than later. ​

What is that saying? 'The night is always darkest before the dawn?'
Well, although the vaccination programmes are about to start (or even have started, in the UK), with the dark months of winter ahead of us, the Covid situation will probably get worse before it gets better.

I'm sooooo done with this! I guess everybody is, by now.
That's why we've decided to gloss over the depressing coming months, and focus on what will happen when we're about to enter a new spring: ShowUP!

Originally planned in February, the ShowUP organization decided to better be safe than sorry and moved the trade show to March 14-15.
With the vaccination programme in the Netherlands in full swing by then, we're confident the trade show will take place and we're looking forward to meeting many of you there.

Would be great to see you in Vijfhuizen when the spring is getting ready to bloom!

Not so sure the mail(wo)man will reach you in time this Holiday season?
We've recently updated our Store Locator so you can see if there's a store near you with our designs in their collection.

Most of the stores carrying our designs are green and/or have a special eclectic curated collection of products of all kinds of independent brands and designers. 
They're definitely worth your visit! 

Since we don't have in insight into each shops' day-to-day inventory, you might want to check with the store before heading over, if you're looking for a specific item. ​

Missing a store near you? Let us know, and we'll see what we can do!
(or let the store know about us... ;-))

<Click here to visit the Store Locator>