Retail starts to plan for life post-lockdown

British Retail Consortium issues new social distancing guidelines as retailers consider what stores could look like post-lockdown.

British Retail Consortium – together with trade union USDAW – has issued new social distancing guidelines as retailers face what their stores could look like post-lockdown.

Essential retailers including grocers have been working with many of the measures suggested for a number of weeks now – including limiting the number of people in-store and encouraging customers to shop solo where possible – and this has formed a blueprint for the guidance.

“The safety and wellbeing of retail colleagues and customers remains the highest priority,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, quoted on Fashion United. “Retailers are closely following developments from the government on when restrictions might be eased and are starting to plan accordingly.

“Since the lockdown, many retailers have proved how shops can be run safely and effectively in line with the government’s social distancing advice. This guidance is the product of retail’s incredible efforts to adapt to exceptional circumstances.”

Non essential retailers – including high street fashion stores which stock key licensed lines such as Primark, H&M, Zara and Pull & Bear among others – have been closed since March 23.

The BRC’s guidelines include: limiting the number of entrance and exit points into the store, placing clear signage outside stores to communicate the social distancing message, provision of cleaning stations including hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes/spray for baskets, considering one-way systems in-store, changing the layout of the store to ensure aisles/walkways are as clear as possible to allow for social distancing, physical barriers at till points, encouraging cashless purchases, considering keeping changing rooms closed and removing or limiting customer seating in-store.

In addition, those with in-store cafés – such as Primark’s Birmingham (Disney) and Manchester (Friends) outlets – should keep them closed until further notice.

Paddy Lillis, general secretary of USDAW, added: “Non-food retail should only start trading again when expert public health advice agrees. However, we need to be ready and we need to make sure that the proper preparations and measures are put in place.”

Last week, Primark’s ceo, George Weston, acknowledged that the retailer needed to make its stores safe for staff and customers before re-opening saying “even if that means ensuring there are fewer people shopping at any one time and so accepting lower sales at least until the remaining risk is minimal”.

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