Shops to reopen on the 15th June

[SistemaAddict]

Just listening to the briefing. So pretty much all back to normal on the 15th apart from education? Does he really think people are going to docilely distance still??

@nuttymomma we have to keep persevering with it though.... we are going to be audited on social distancing in stores

I'm an nhs office worker who is WFH and don't expect that to change any time soon. I couldn't go into the office or nip out for lunch even if it was allowed what with attempting to school my two kids at the same time until August at the earliest.

Just thinking, if schools do go back with in September, uniform shops will be 'essential'. No way will either of my kids fit all their uniform they ended the school year with. Our local one is usually a madhouse in summer, so I presume they will be purely click and collect

My eldest DS going to high school in August. Will need a whole uniform, not sure how this will work. I am hoping this will be relaxed somewhat.

I'll be there queuing up to go shopping 🛍

I won’t. I’ll stick with online. Hate shopping. So long as I can pop into Boots I’m ok.

@DahliaDay what do you mean audited? Are shops going to be checked on whether they are doing social distancing or is this just like the bigger shops / well known ones?

Yes ours is a large chain

Health and safety always a priority and now auditors are checking how we are managing social distancing

Pros - great, my daughter might get her job back.

Cons - even more reasons not to see daughter and grandchildren, if she is working again.

We (husband and me) have decided we won't be going to the shops if they do open.

I have never enjoyed shopping for its own sake, a necessary evil, just not my thing.
May never set foot in another shop 😃

Me too Chilli. I was a heavy user of online shopping before the pandemic and I am happy to continue.

The only thing I miss is going to our local independent yarn shops and seeing the lovely yarn in the flesh. It's just not the same on a computer screen.

*knittingaddict

*The only thing I’ve missed is choosing my own produce: fed up with fatty bacon 😁

Listening to the description from the Westfield manager yesterday, it didn’t sound like a fun experience for shopaholics, either. One way system, limited numbers, social distancing, obviously. No touching objet, potentially no changing rooms open, certainly no cafes and possibly no loos. And the queues. Interminable queues everywhere. Nooooo.

My husband works for a small retailer. They have paid for an independent health and safety advisor to review their new ways of working ahead of hopefully reopening on 15th June.

Believe me, they are taking everything extremely seriously. Quite apart from what is morally right the stand and fall by their reputation and they understand that to maintain their reputation and trust they need to do absolutely everything they can to make things as safe as possible.

TBH their main issue will be unfortunately be customers who are unhappy with the fact that some things may take longer or be less efficient that before. Or even worse, who refuse to cooperate with safety measures. Previously nothing was too much trouble, the customer was always right etc etc, but now this all has to be handled with safety as the top priority even where it negatively impacts the customer experience.

. Or even worse, who refuse to cooperate with safety measures.

Yes, I feel sorry for any retail staff who have to face customers who do this. I think that'll be one of the tougher challenges, especially those retailers who do lone trading too.

It's just not a pleasant experience going shopping at the moment. I went to Asda yesterday queuing for 15 minutes which isn't too bad but in store I got told off for going down a no entry aisle. Many others were doing the same I didn't realise , I want to be able to go down a aisle where I want it's a pain but I need to shop .
I'm not doing it non essential shops I'll shop online if possible.

The only reason I go clothes shopping to a shop is to try things on. If you can't try things on, you might as well just buy on-line. This is not going to work.

I read somewhere you won't be able to try on shoes!! Well, equally, there is absolutely no point in going into the shop then..... very odd.

Sorry, keep hitting return..... so my question is, as we have been buying on-line and trying stuff on and returning it, what has happened to the returns..... have they been binned? Unlikely.

I am wondering this too. There is zero logic in not allowing people to try on clothing if we can return clothing that has been tried on at home . The only issue would be cleaning changing rooms between people I suppose but that doesn't even apply to things like shoes, or hoodies that you can just try on then and there. If they really wanted you could pass the tried on garment to staff to isolate for a while before putting it back on the shelf I guess.

I doubt it, I’m sure they go back in to circulation but the virus is only supposed to live on surfaces for a few days so by the time

They go to the next person they should be ok

Doubt very much that shows or clothing can be tried on

All items need to be wiped down where I work....customer returns or change of mind at till ( non clothing retailer)

You can’t wipe down a hoodie and the spray used would ruin shoes

And they won’t have enough stock or resources to organise removing items from shopfloor and move back etc etc

I suppose if you tried something on in a shop

There could be a risk of passing on the virus if someone else tried on the same item soon after.

It’s going to be difficult for clothes shops as under normal circumstances people like to take their time browsing, touching things and trying things on.

i wonder when there will be more info on all this

@Baaaahhhhh

I read somewhere you won't be able to try on shoes!! Well, equally, there is absolutely no point in going into the shop then..... very odd.

lol that would be peculiar

Peculiar is our new normal!

Maybe there will be disposable ‘socks’ or something for trying on shoes?