03/02/2026
Hi everyone, Marshall here, current owner of Venus Envy.
After 25 years in Ottawa, we will be closing our warehouse in March 2026. This is heartbreaking news to share.
For the past two years we have been struggling, like many small businesses. The economic downturn and changes in customer spending have impacted us deeply, and we cannot sustain our Ottawa warehouse. Consolidating operations in Halifax is our only chance to keep Venus Envy alive, though even that is not guaranteed.
WHAT THIS MEANS:
- Our website will remain unchanged, serving our customers across Canada
- Online orders will be fulfilled from Ottawa until the end of February
- Fulfillment will shift to Halifax in early March
- Our Ottawa warehouse will close in mid-March 2026, date to be determined
I've been with VE since Shelley hired me in Halifax in 1999, and running the Halifax shop since 2008. I helped open the first Ottawa location in 2001. When Sam Whittle offered me the opportunity to purchase the website in 2023 after the shop fire, bringing Venus Envy back together felt like coming full circle. I hoped to maintain both locations, but now consolidating in Halifax is the only path forward that gives Venus Envy a chance to survive.
This closure affects our small but mighty Ottawa team directly, and that is the hardest part. Our staff are the heart and soul of VE Ottawa since the fire, keeping online sales running and bringing genuine care to every customer interaction. I am deeply grateful for their commitment during this difficult time.
To our loyal Ottawa customers: thank you for 25 years of trust and support. Thank you for trusting us with your questions, your curiosity, and your journey toward pleasure and self-discovery. Thank you for believing in our mission of inclusive, shame-free s*x education and body-positive products. You have made this work meaningful, and this community has been at the heart of everything we do.
While our physical presence in Ottawa is ending, this is not a goodbye. I am committed to keeping Venus Envy alive and continuing to serve Ottawa online with workshops, books, and pleasure products. Your continued support through our website is crucial in making that happen. I hope you will always consider us a part of the Ottawa community.
With gratitude and heartfelt thanks, Marshall Haywood (he/they)
Please visit our website for the complete text, and an audio file, link in bio.
https://venusenvy.ca/pages/ottawa-warehouse
