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Original poster

A practical discussion: life after lockdown

46 replies

TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 08:09

I think the government should start preparing people now for coming out of lockdown, so that when it finally happens (whenever that is) people are ready to engage in behaviours that allow them to function while still feeling safe.

One thing I was thinking about was clothes shopping.

Lots of people shop online but going to shops is still popular, largely because people like to feel and try on clothes before buying.

If lockdown ended in two weeks, would you be happy to go back to a shop and look at/try on clothes? Or would you just order online? Or would you expect a different set up in the shop post-lockdown?

OP posts:
SistemaAddict · 12/04/2020 08:24

I don't think they know what coming out of lockdown will look like at the moment so it's not possible to prepare people.

I've been at home for 4 weeks now and have only wished I could go to the shops once in all that time yet I normally go every day. As a family we have accepted that dinner choices are limited and we eat what we have rather than deciding we don't fancy what we have and going to the shop for something different.

Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 08:27

Maybe it's not so much about preparing people as understanding what they might expect and feel comfortable with.

Are you ordering clothes online @Bercows or just not buying clothes at all?

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Unescorted · 12/04/2020 08:28

I am more worried about the people who have been laid off, SME companies that will no longer be in business. What happens to them when the mortgage holidays end, and rent arrears have to be paid for? There will be real poverty and hardship for many people who have not been in that position before.

Matildathehun77 · 12/04/2020 08:30

The thing is, lockdown won't happen in that way (I don't think) they're not going to suddenly make an announcement on June 1st "Lockdown is now over and everything's open"
Things will happen very gradually over many weeks and months. So, in your example, clothes shops may be allowed to open but only to collect things you've ordered online. Then you may be able to browse but not try on (queueing to get in because only 5 people are allowed in the shop)
Moving, eventually to a larger flow of people in the shop but no trying on....
I think shopping online will be the expected norm for quite a while to come and retailers will have to work closely with Govt advisors to balance the needs of the economy with the inevitable increase in the virus. It'll be a huge balancing act and may involve one step forward two steps back for quite a while yet.
This is the way I hope it'll happen anyway.

Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 08:31

I agree that not everything will open at once, I'm wondering what way it would need to happen to make people feel safe and start the process of going back to normal.

OP posts:
Matildathehun77 · 12/04/2020 08:39

In all honesty it'll need a vaccine or effective treatment before we feel completely safe (and there are new developments happening every day so we will get there!) but in the meantime, the extent to which people will feel safe is down to their own mindset. Take a look at a couple of holiday and school reopening threads to see the differences. Some people will continue to be on very high alert and want to stay at home long after lockdown has officially been ended. Others will push the limits set continually in order to gain more and more "freedom"

I have wondered too about those people who are furloughed, will they actually all have jobs to go back to? And if not, how long will the govt keep paying their "furlough" for? Not long I'd be willing to bet...... so what happens after that?

Xiaoxiong · 12/04/2020 08:40

I think the gradual method that Matilda describes will be how they get people comfortable, slowly we mix again little by little and if people aren't catching covid19 and hospital admissions don't start rising then they loosen a little more, rinse and repeat.

SistemaAddict · 12/04/2020 09:22

I'm not buying clothes at all. I'm shielded and not going anywhere at all and have clothes from last year that will do just fine. Last year I bought the dc walking sandals that were on the big side knowing they would do for this year too. If we need anything then I'll get things online. I wish I could go bra shopping though!

bluebeck · 12/04/2020 09:30

Do you work in fashion retail OP? That appears to be your main issue?

I don't think I will go to any shop aside from food shop until this is all behind us, so possibly 18 - 24 months before I feel ready to go back into a clothes shop.

Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 09:33

No I don't work in retail, I research behaviour, so this is something that I'm interested in. I'm concerned that the government have done such a good job of scaring people that when they say 'now it's time to start getting back to normal' people just won't, and the impact of the economy will be devastating.

Do you buy clothes online @bluebeck?

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fessmess · 12/04/2020 09:38

It seems, from this short thread, that people like to shop for clothes. I do so about 5-6 times a year if you include underwear. Perhaps this crisis will stop fast fashion. Let's hope so.

littleducks · 12/04/2020 09:43

Large supermarkets sell clothes so i could buy some with my groceries if i wanted. I don't have the need so haven't. I also dont shop for clothes fir fun or leisure. But if i needed something i would buy it i a supermarket no issue. But im not quarantining post or steilising shopping or anything like that.

Reginabambina · 12/04/2020 09:47

I’m not even remotely concerned about catching it. I know many people who aren’t. I’m not sure what to do about the people trying to avoid catching it but for a lot of people this won’t be a problem.

bluebeck · 12/04/2020 09:47

Yes, I buy clothes online, now and B.C. Smile

I like to use my BA Executive Club E Store to get the airmiles (Oh! The Irony!) so despite living ten minutes walk from a gigantic M&S store, I will go to the shop and choose something I like, then go home and order it online so I get the AVIOS. I then go in store and collect it. I do the same with Look Fantastic for beauty products.

I also order from Jaeger and & Other Stories online. I do sometimes go to Next but only if it is a weekday morning when it is quiet as I don't like busy shops.

I would say 95% of my clothes are from those four retailers. Blush

onalongsabbatical · 12/04/2020 09:50

@Reginabambina do you have magic immunity or something?

Matildathehun77 · 12/04/2020 09:50

I'm concerned that the government have done such a good job of scaring people that when they say 'now it's time to start getting back to normal' people just won't, and the impact of the economy will be devastating.

I don't think that'll happen though, there'll be some people like @bluebeck who want to stay away from other for an extended period of time and that's their right to do so. Most people have short memories and will be only too happy to get back out there as soon as they have permission. I only hope that people understand the slow release lockdown (if that's what we do) and listen and comply when things are tightened or taken away again.

It seems, from this short thread, that people like to shop for clothes. I do so about 5-6 times a year if you include underwear. Perhaps this crisis will stop fast fashion. Let's hope so.

@fessmess

That's an odd judgement to have taken away from this thread and reading through all the replies I'm not sure it's justified. Op was pondering about life after lockdown and chose clothes shopping as an example. On a personal level, clothes shopping is my idea of hell and they can gladly stay closed for the next two years Grin

OuterMongolia · 12/04/2020 09:53

I'm not a big clothes shopper myself so I haven't missed clothes shopping during lockdown. When lockdown is lifted, I wouldn't feel worried about clothes shopping nearly as much as other things (eg travelling on crowded public transport).

Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 09:53

Clothes shopping is an interesting one because in a sense it's 'optional' - as long as you have some clothes to wear you can avoid it for quite a long time.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 09:54

At the same time it is seen by many as a leisure activity, something they enjoy, and it's a huge part of the UK economy so I'm curious about it.

OP posts:
LoveLongLife · 12/04/2020 09:58

I would op. I'd go back to sitting in a cafe, buying clothes, not having to line up outside a shop like we have to now.

But I believe I have a different mindset to most. You see, I had that 'stem-cell lite', a type of 'chemotherapy' to obliterate a huge chunk of my immune system, so it can rebuild without the MS component.

There's something powerful about walking around with literally ZERO lymphocytes in your body. At first I self isolated, and then I gradually joined the real world but always, always telling my hands after I touch a door knob, an item someone else could have touched on the shelf... always as I was walking out of a shop I'd go straight to my hand gel. I would stand an arm's length away from other people in a queue, and if so steamy room is too crowded I'd try to hold my breath while I find a quiet corner (where I can teach my arm out and not touch anyone - that was my rule of thumb; an arm's length).

I'm not a big shopper so I e always been more of a target shop kind of a gal, in and out on a mission. Coffees out was a biggie for me though. And at first I would wipe down the table with antibacterial wipes and then gel my hand before and after I leave.

So for me, it would be business as usual, because my usual is a bit more protected than most other people are used to.

Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 10:02

That's really interesting @LoveLongLife, I think your perspective of having to live with this sort of situation for a long time is really useful as it shows how it can be managed. Was the treatment successful?

OP posts:
BubblyBarbara · 12/04/2020 10:20

I agree with Unescorted. Doing things like milling around clothes shops is going to be a bit in bad taste in several months as others will be getting repossessed or struggle to buy food

Original poster
TheDailyCarbuncle · 12/04/2020 10:24

If no one goes to clothes shops all the people who rely on clothes shops for their living will also be getting repossessed and struggling to buy food @BubblyBarbara.

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Tootletum · 12/04/2020 10:25

It's all bollocks. Open the shops and those who think they're for enough can chance it. Hunger games lifeGrin

LoveLongLife · 12/04/2020 10:26

Was the treatment successful?

I still haven't got a full immunity and the first treatment was in 2018. So that will affect the results in a way, because the whole idea is to end up with a normal immunity, which it still is not (but the opposite end of normal, if you see what I mean. Before treatment it was overactive and after treatment it's still not recovered fully yet) though the aim is to have no more new MS relapses and that has been accomplished thus far. So I guess the answer would have to be yes, now that I think of it!