Quarantined items and joyful experiences: How retailers are preparing to resume trading amid Covid-19
As non-essential retailers prepare to reopen their doors, it is clear customer experience will play an essential role in reassuring shoppers and ensuring a safe and stress-free return to Britain’s high streets.
Non-essential shops on high streets up and down the UK are allowed to reopen from Monday (15 June), two months after they were forced to shut as a result of Covid-19.
Business secretary Alok Sharma says the change will allow the high street to “spring back to life”. But shops are going to look, feel and smell very different to the high streets people are used to.
DFS-owned chain The Sofa Workshop is ‘sofa distancing’, according to its window displays. “Let’s keep a 3-seater sofa between us”, one sign reads, while another declares that a wave is the new handshake.
Selfridges, meanwhile, is promising to bring “a little bit more life and a joyful experience for customers”. While it is not yet able to reopen services such as beauty makeovers, hairdressing, cafes or cinemas, it will be hosting a variety of virtual experiences and live entertainment – such as DJs – to keep wearied queuing customers entertained.
John Lewis, which will reopen 13 of its shops in different stages from Monday, has launched a video outlining the measures it is taking to ensure customers can shop safely.
