Retail stores trying to work out opening gambit
TRADITIONAL shops are working out how they will have to change when lockdown restrictions are eased to allow them to open.
They expect footfall to drop as they seek to restore shoppers’ confidence.
Costs are set to increase as shops are made safe for staff, as PPE [personal protection equipment] and sanitiser for them and customers is bought in.
It seems likely they will copy the supermarkets’ model of a one-in-one-out system alongside social distancing to get businesses open again.
Retail leaders have also said they might have to look at alternative methods of selling, for example online.
A spokesman for the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce said it was helping the retail sector to identify ways in which it could operate safely in the coming weeks and months.
‘We are looking at systems used, for instance, in food retail to see whether some of those elements could be applied,’ the spokesman said.
‘At the same time, Chamber is lending support to any retailer wanting to use our platform to promote themselves for free and encouraging them to sell online if possible.
‘We believe that the days of leisure shopping enabling higher numbers of people to spend time in retail establishments and browse are likely to be impacted by ongoing health controls.
‘Managing entry and exit numbers, maybe offering a one-way system inside and ensuring that staff protection and remote paying is possible are all part of the discussion.’
Whatever is agreed upon, Guernsey Retail Group chairman and Creaseys director Jonathan Creasey said the safety of staff and customers would be paramount.
‘We’ve got to respect the States of Guernsey and Public Health’s plan to get us out of lockdown and to do this and get the economy going again a number of changes will need to be made,’ he said.
‘There will be elements of social distancing going forward for non-food and a sort of one-in-one-out type policy similar to that already instigated in supermarkets, which, of course, will not be easy to police if you’re a small shop or indeed a big shop, and the onus will fall onto the retailer.
‘Hygiene will have to be of a very high standard and we’ll have to ensure that there’s hand sanitiser and whatever else is needed to ensure staff and customers are happy.
‘There’ll also need to be screens at till points and ensuring staff have PPE if they want that.
‘For retailers to take these extra steps and extra precautions to ensure they can open won’t be cheap.
‘It will be incredibly difficult for some small retailers to fund, having now been closed for several weeks – it’ll potentially be a big issue – perhaps though certain types of retail, like appointment-driven services, can start to open sooner than others.’
How customers would be served was also likely to change, such as offering personal shopping services and fitting room availability in order to bolster shoppers’ confidence in venturing out.
‘Consumer confidence is probably very low and normally we talk about consumer confidence in terms of finance and they complement each other,’ added Mr Creasey.
‘But it will be about what disposable income people will have and how comfortable they are to spend and to treat themselves, so now we’re also talking about consumer confidence in respect of social confidence, how comfortable people will be to actually come out into Town or to go to a shop.
‘Though it’s all unknown at the moment. In retail we rely on footfall and it’s likely to drop because of this, but we’re ready to adapt.’
