Lifestyle and Mobility retail store reopen covid
Retailers in the sector, such as Lifestyle and Mobility, have already embraced new signage in their stores

As shops across England reopen today, 25 retailers in coordination with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have put together five simple steps to help retailers encourage safe and considerate shopping.

The advice is intended to help create a safe retail environment for both retail staff and shoppers as non-essential stores begin to reopen today, marking a crucial time for thousands of retailers and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Shared by the BRC, the five steps for creating a safe retail environment are:

  1. Queue considerately
  2. Maintain social distancing
  3. Follow instructions inside and outside shops
  4. Follow all necessary hygiene measures
  5. Be respectful to shop staff

To prepare for safe retail environments as stores begin to reopen, shops up and down the country have been implementing necessary social distancing measures, such as perspex screens at counters, signs and floor markings around the store, and new rotas and procedures for cleaning.

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Mobility retailers have also been implementing safety measures to protect elderly and disabled customers as well as staff. For instance, Lifestyle & Mobility has introduced a one-way system, new signage to help customers navigate their way around the store, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to maximise customer and staff safety.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, commented: “Retailers have been working around the clock to create a safe shopping environment, so their customers can have the confidence to return to their favourite shops.

“Our shopping experience may be changing, but if we all follow the necessary social distancing measures and show a little consideration to those around us, then everyone will be better off.”

The forced closure of non-essential stores at the beginning of the UK’s lockdown period in March hit retailers hard, with figures from the BRC showing that UK footfall decreased by over 80 percent in May due to the mandatory lockdown.

However, this was a slower decline than in April, says the consortium, as more categories of shops were allowed to reopen, provided they had the necessary safety measures in place.

Although stores are able to reopen today, the BRC has suggested that this will not provide retailers with immediate relief, as customers have low confidence and stores have to put limits on the number of people allowed in their shop at any one time.

Helen added: “Retailers have been under immense pressure for the past three months but the reopening of non-essential shops from today is unlikely to deliver immediate relief. A mix of low consumer confidence and limits on the number of people able to enter stores mean that many shops will continue to suffer lower footfall – and lower sales – for some time to come.”

However, Andy Sumpter from ShopperTrak says that if retailers can quickly adapt to managing social distancing and site occupancy levels, then customers will begin to feel safer and more reassured, and footfall will start to return to bricks and mortar stores.

He said: “All eyes are on the rest of retail now as doors start to open on June 15th. In the short term we expect consumers will visit less, but buy more each visit, making each shopper all the more precious. Footfall has a totally new value.

“Retailers will have to adapt quickly on how to manage social distancing and site occupancy levels, and give consumers comfort as they start to come back. Initially, consumers may give retailers some goodwill, but soon enough, if there’s a smaller queue, better managed carpark or a seemingly safer, easier shopping environment… shoppers will vote with their feet.

“There are certainly tough times still ahead, but with our shops re-opening we are one step closer to normality, and we welcome that.”

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LM-covid.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LM-covid-150x150.jpgSarah SarsbyBusiness SupportCoronavirus NewsCOVID-19 Trade NewsNewsroomRetailer NewsTrade NewsBRC,british retail consortium,lifestyle and mobility,mobility retailers,mobility sector,mobility shops,mobility stores,ShopperTrak,social distancingAs shops across England reopen today, 25 retailers in coordination with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have put together five simple steps to help retailers encourage safe and considerate shopping. The advice is intended to help create a safe retail environment for both retail staff and shoppers as non-essential stores...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals