BUSINESS-RESUMPTION CHECKLIST: HOW TO PREPARE TO REOPEN YOUR RETAIL STORE SAFELY
The global Covid-19 pandemic has not only swept crowds of people off the streets, but it has also left retail shops empty like they don’t even exist. It’s no secret that countries across the world have incurred increased online revenue due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, but many brick-and-mortar businesses fear if they would be able to ring up sales again like before.
Well, we can’t deny the loss businesses are experiencing depending on their size, location and industry. But regardless of where you are and how short or long-term implications this pandemic has on your retail store, you should be preparing for your business’s reopening sooner than later.
In that context, we have compiled a list of actions you need to perform before you let the doors of your store open for your customers again.
GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lockdown timing, rules and guidelines related to business reopening will vary from place to place. In some locations, businesses may be allowed to resume their operations with half strength while other states may allow only certain types of businesses to reopen. To avoid any legal charges or penalty, it is important that you confirm about business continuity with your local government authorities before you reopen by yourself.
To check with the local government, you can visit their official website or call on the provided numbers to determine whether your business is allowed to reopen. Also, confirm necessary dates as well as measures you need to comply with in order to ensure a seamless operation. You can gather important resources, signage and checklists, which you may need to use mandatorily, from your county or city.
TRAIN YOUR STAFF
This step is paramount to the safety of your customers and your staff themselves. Here are the key considerations for preparing your staff:
- Identify the employees you want onboard again. Since the demand, at the beginning, may not be as high as before lockdown, you will not need full strength. Decide and get in touch with employees who are mentally and physically fit to take on their roles.
- Train them to properly to use protective wear and practise hygiene. The team should follow necessary health and safety measures at the store and should be constantly reminded on the importance of social distancing and hygiene.
Apart from these, take a look at some other considerations you want to be assure of:
- Scan your staff’s temperatures daily as they come in.
- Be mindful of any members falling sick on duty. Brief store managers to watch out for signs of deteriorating health in employees, if any.
- In addition to verbal reminders, post signage in employee break rooms and restrooms to make sure the team prioritises safety and health in the store.
GET YOUR INVENTORY AND STORE READY
Sales at your store would be comparatively lower than usual after reopening, but you have to make sure you have all the items stocked up that customers may be looking for.
To prepare your inventory for sales:
- Perform an inventory count first. Do a physical stock count to make sure the number on your POS inventory control system matches the actual items you have in your stockroom.
- Run important sales reports. While historical sales data may not be very helpful given the drastic shift in consumer spending, you still can assess merchandise performance and sales reports to determine what items might sell more than others during this time.
KEEP NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, ASSETS AND TOOLS IN PLACE
There may be a scanner that stopped working right before the lockdown or a receipt printer with a due repair. Get all your devices, supplies and technologies in good working condition to avoid any operational issues or downtime after reopening.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Inspect your store and location properly. This step is to ensure that your store is physically good to go. Signs of natural wear and tear on the assets or damages caused due to forced entry require immediate action.
- Make sure all the utilities are up and running smoothly. If you had your electricity or water connection disconnected before the lockdown, contact the concerned companies to get them working again before you reopen. Do not forget to check your phone and internet connection too because it’s more important than ever to stay connected during these challenging times.
- Give security equipment and services a good check. Security systems including cameras and alarms, etc. should be in good health so as to ensure the safety of your staff and customers.
- Make sure your POS systems and peripherals are up to snuff. Update your point of sale hardware and software while stocking up on necessary supplies like direct thermal label rolls, ink rollers, ink cassettes, label printer ribbons, etc. This will help you serve your customers efficiently and improve your staff productivity.
- Spruce up your marketing assets. Though you will be incurring less crowds during this time, it will still pay off to revamp your in-store and window displays to ring up more sales. However, arrange your store fixtures, displays and shelves at least 6 feet apart to maintain social distancing.
ALERT AND REASSURE CUSTOMERS
After weeks of lockdown, customers will need to be informed that your business is reopening. You will also need to get the word out about your safety standards so that customers are not hesitant to shop from your store.
Brand-Level Awareness: The need for clear and transparent communication during this lockdown period is more imperative than ever. If you have been regularly engaging with your customers on social media channels, you can easily tell them you are open again, what you have in store for them and why they should come back.
Casual browsing will not be the case while you reopen during Covid-19 outbreak, so it would be helpful to keep your customers updated about Stock availability and store timings before they risk traveling miles to get to your store.
Store-Level Engagement: At store level, you can run promotions and tell customers about them by putting relevant signage outside your store. You can use external digital displays and sidewalk signs about health and hygiene practises you are adopting, how your staff is trained to work safely or how often your store is sanitised. This will give customers that extra push they need to shop with you again.
So, are you ready to resume your retail operation?
Stores will reopen while Coronavirus is still in circulation among people as there is little to no likelihood of a vaccine being developed and successfully available until 2021 as expressed by WHO. But even in the absence of a lockdown, many businesses would still be hesitant to reopen unless they really have to. Others who are desperate to cover their losses and restore their operation in full swing will have to be extremely cautious because the last thing you want in your store is a huge crowd of people.
We hope the steps mentioned in this blog guide your reopening efforts as you set up new processes and help ensure highest safety and hygiene standards to do business during this pandemic period.
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