As governors and other local officials give retailers the go-ahead to reopen stores, it is important for stores to define what they stand for and why they are an important part of their communities as well. Over the last couple of months, there have been a lot of physical stores that have been shut down (some permanently) during the pandemic and a lot of talk about how e-commerce has finally put the last nail in the coffin of brick and mortar retail with more and more people shopping for more items online. But in the article, “Brick and Mortar’s Next Chapter”  experts say, “People buy from people — whether it’s clothing or books or cold cuts — it’s the personal experience. That’s why physical stores aren’t going away.”

Now more than ever it is critical for retailers to focus on creating a positive “personal experience” for their customers and the customer’s experience starts the minute the customer walks into the store and interacts with the staff. In this time of COVID-19, a crucial part of the retail experience is the need for customers and associates to feel safe in the store environment. Retailers of all sizes must follow guidelines to create a safe environment for their customers and their associates to ensure that everyone’s experience is positive and ensure that customers will return again and again.

As the country moves into the next stage of reopening, there are new standards that retailers need to follow to create a safe environment for everyone:

• Post signage that customers must observe the 6-foot social distancing standards set out by the CDC
• Have sales associates wear masks and gloves
• Require customers to wear facemasks
• Clean and sanitize frequently touched surfaces
• Implement contact-free and cash-free transactions
• Quarantine all returns in a designated area for 48 hours

By observing and implementing these easy to understand and follow standards, retailers can create a safe experience for both their customers and associates will ensure that brick-and-mortar retail can create a healthy environment where people feel comfortable with the in-store experience and get back to enjoying the person-to-person experience that they can get from a retail store.

If you are interested in purchasing social distancing floor marking tape and social distancing and hygiene signage and posters for your retail store, shop our website, Specialty Store Services.  We have everything you need to be a profitable retailer.  If you have a question that you would like answered immediately, you can Live Chat, or phone us at 800-999-0771.