Essential retailer?

[Oldbagface]

I've just noticed on Instagram that our local Superdrug store will remain open during lockdown. They don't have a pharmacy. I am now genuinely confused. How can they be classified as an essential retailer?

I'm wondering what's actually shutting to be honest. I was in a panic as I was having carpets fitted 12th November and everyone I spoke to said that would be a no go- rang them this morning and they reassured me it would be business as usual ( phew!). I manage a care home so I'm working, I have one child at primary school, another at high school, looks like the only thing we can't do is go out for tea!

It's hospitality that will take the biggest hit here : wickes and b and q will do the ' click and collect' no doubt and with schools open it won't be as bad as last time. I feel for the pubs restaurant and hotel owners.
I bet most pubs will be a thing of the past in a few years time and nightclubs non existent.
Retail has been struggling for a while but can go online and people will always want to shop , but it's all still shit especially fir the young who rely on hospitality jobs to get them through college / uni.

I'm wondering what's actually shutting to be honest

No, you aren’t.

Garages are staying open this time and my employer is claiming we're a manufacturer so that we can stay open too.

I think it's going to be pubs, cafes and hairdressers that close and for the rest it'll be business as usual and a complete waste of time

I forgot about hairdressers. Mine phoned me up to reschedule and sounded so down. I feel for her. Its not the news they wanted to hear this close to Christmas as well.

😂 I am not trying to police the lockdown for goodness sake. I was genuinely perplexed.

Why shouldn't they be open just because you can buy many of the same things in the supermarket? Should a Co-op shut because there is a Tesco half a mile away?

I also found it odd that certain places could trade last time , so your not alone.
I bet that's why the panic buying was so bad in March as people thought everything was going to shut apart from a few places.
I wasn't aware of the rules or what the conditions were.

I'm in Melbourne, coming out of the fiercest bits of the lockdown, but can the UK retailers not allowed to open do click and collect? It worked well for some.

The hairdressers! Please form an orderly queue is the order of the day. Literally. Socially distanced chairs in the street as men line up for the short back and sides/mullet.

Thank you for your reply @the80sweregreat. It's totally confusing. I think I just assumed as it's not food retail and this particular store don't have a pharmacy that they would close.

Great idea upthread regarding all stores selling tampons in order to be classed as essential. I'm sure even most charity shops have a few plasters or antiseptic cream lying around 😁

@MsInsomniac

No I know they won’t be open on Thursday but they are cramming them in now to drink up... other pubs are doing the same. It’s like a 2 day long happy hour

All the beers in draught will have to be disposed of as they won't last . So a lot are selling them reduced the next couple of days .

Hospitality, hairdressers, nail salons, tattoo studios, gyms, and anything remotely deemed as fun tbh. I know someone will come along and tell me those things aren't necessary anyway, but they're necessary for the livelihood of the people who run them and their employees.

I guess the owners of the bars would rather sell it off cheaply than throw it away again! Can't blame them.

@Oldbagface

I'm not a Muppet or a tit thank you very much. It just seems odd when these things can be picked up when doing the weekly shop. No need to be so fucking rude is there?

Most of the stuff Superdrug sells is not available in my local Co-op where I do some of my food shopping.

Not everyone does a "weekly shop" or goes to a supermarket. Not everyone has a car, so they need to get a bus into town and go to the smaller shops.

Obviously it's essential.

@PickAChew

We have 2 super drugs and while the city centre one was closed, the retail park one was open. Unlike the nearby boots, they didn't interrogate you about what you were going in for, so they get my custom quite regularly. Handy with such a dire hay-fever season, this year, if nothing else.

If you are taking regular hay fever medication it might be cheaper to get them on prescription

The places that are shutting are fun : I like having my hair trimmed and I have had the odd beauty treatment in the past. It's nice to be pampered now and again.
I'm not a shopper for clothes or bags but many do like a day out at the stores.
It keeps the economy moving and it makes people happy as is a pint or a pie up the pub. Life is for living and it's sad that many of these things are going to be denied to people for a long time, I think!
I know it's not the same as a world war but it's certainly depressing and I say that as someone who isn't a shopper at all! It's also jobs and people's livelihoods and businesses that will be affected too of course.

Where is the info to see which retailers are staying open? I know it's a long shot but is Ikea closing? I'm in desperate need of a new office chair!

@GrumpySausage the Range thought smart when the first lock down was looming.... They started to stock fridges....it made them essential.

Wilkos is opened because it sells so many everyday essentials under one roof, so preventing too many trips to different shops eg cleaning stuff, pet food, toiletries, otc meds. Last lockdown when the kids were off, stationery, kids crafts and toys were pretty essential I reckon.

Ps I don’t work for them....but did find them useful last lockdown.

My DSis works at the Range and they made damn sure they could stay open by installing refrigerators for milk, chilled and frozen food.

Our Superdrug has a nurse for flu jabs and general advice, and a small pharmacy. Not to mention the majority of what they sell is essential and not all available at the supermarket.

Remember the supermarket shortages? I suspect that places like Superdrug, B&M helped people who needed to find sources of formula and nappies. They are also useful if you didn't need a lot of items in one shop - say Calpol and tampons.

@MadamFlutterby

I've just signed a petition for dog groomers to remain open. Animal welfare shouldn't suffer.

Dog groomers can stay open. Mine has already confirmed she is allowed to.

Y daughter was in The Range in the hour just before the Welsh lockdown started. There were tannoy announcements that they would not be selling non-essential items after 6pm (when lockdown started) so maybe it’ll be the same in England - open for stuff you can call essential but not for the other stuff.
Although, with England’s record so far I wouldn’t bet on it.

My sister works in a baby shop, her boss has told her they are essential because you can’t have a baby without baby stuff.
I’m not convinced, surely you can buy it all online

I have never understood The Range. Their product range seems massive but not particularly cheap like B&M or Home Bargains.