With 15 June now being named as the new opening date for non-essential retail in the UK, party retailers have shared how they will be preparing for this date and what they are expecting to see when their doors open in three weeks time.
“I am disappointed that we did not open on 1 June… To have to wait another three weeks will put a strain on our finances even more. We are a small shop and the only way to social distance is to restrict to only one customer in the shop at a time – but I managed to do before we close, so I don’t feel it will be a problem. We are all so used to queuing now as well as social distancing, customers will be fine with that.
I have managed to get some hand sanitizer for customers to use as they enter the shop. As far as staffing goes, I feel that we will have to stick to just one member of staff in the shop and customers will just have to wait a little longer.
The one problem that I can foresee is the fancy dress costume side of my business, I can’t allow people to try on in the store but in the same vein I shouldn’t give refunds either as the costumes will have been tried on at home. I think I will have to say no refunds on costumes, which is hard and could well prevent people from buying them.”
Jane Plummer, The Party Box, Berkshire
