To our valued customers:

It seems like it was just yesterday we were entering a new world of lock-downs, safety protocols, and isolation measures in response to a pandemic we seemingly new nothing about.

Fast forward three years later; the dust is finally settling, we are getting back to our normal routines, yet, it is a “new normal” as we notice that things still aren’t quite as they were.

As a family-owned business, we have done our absolute best over the last two years to navigate the ever-changing and at times turbulent waters. Balancing the safety of our customers and employees has always been our number one priority while doing our best to meet the expectations of our current and future customers during this economic strain.

During the transition from pandemic to endemic, I think it is clear to say we have experienced the pressures and changes it has yielded - gas is at an astronomical high, closures of businesses and/or reduced hours due staff shortages, slow customer service, empty grocery shelves and car sales lots due to supply & demand strains, delays in shipping on just about every product you can imagine and the most noticed, the word INFLATION is everywhere you go.

Unique in what we offer & supply, our industry and business in particular has really faced the challenges of an ongoing global pandemic and the ripple effect it has had on our customers. Because our company imports granite from quarries all around the world, inflation, labour shortages and foremost, shipping delays has become a battle we are constantly trying to navigate and pivot around.

An interesting article in “The Atlantic” outlines some of the challenges many companies are facing, including ours. If you have the moment to read it, I suggest glancing over it. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/09/pandemic-supply-chainnightmare-slow-shipping/620147/ 

What does this mean on a non-business level, to our families and future customers? We know the pandemic has been hard on all of us emotionally & financially and empathize that losing a loved one is hard, and that our services often bring comfort and closure during this exceptionally difficult time of loosing a loved one.

It is our company promise to you that we are working our hardest to catch up, complete new & old work orders, while trying to get your memorial(s) for your loved one(s) to you as quickly as we can.

Our employees are working overtime, sacrificing time away from their own families to help service our customers and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and hard work. We are also constantly evolving and striving to look for innovative ways to speed up shipping, schedule trips when mother nature allows during a season of unprecedented snow and rain, and simply doing our best to provide exceptional customer service as we update you with whatever information we have from our shipping companies and manufacturers.

We ask as a valued customer, that you trust in us that we are doing our best and give us the grace that these last two years have been extremely difficult on our business as many of the constraints slowing orders or workloads are beyond our control. If at any time you begin to lack confidence and trust in our company, we ask that you visit our google reviews to remind yourself that in years before the pandemic we have remained one of the most trusted caring companies that have served our families well, both in craftmanship and customer service and it is our mission to continue to do so as best we can.

If at any time you are curious about an order, do not hesitate to contact our office for a status update. As our company promise we will do our very best to be clear, transparent and realistic on timelines (within our control) both, when an order is placed or on a pending memorial. We also ask that you be kind and patient with our staff as it is times like these where we rely on the mindfulness and understanding of our community to keep our spirits high and stand together as we navigate the “new normal.”

Please accept our very best wishes for you & your loved ones from our family owned business.

Sincerely,
Matt de la Lande

M. C. Delande’s Monuments & Memorials Inc.