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Fitting Rooms To Remain Closed & Returned Goods Quarantine
Aside from Kohl’s, Gap will also be
closing all fitting rooms and restrooms when it reopens more than 800
stores this month, as will Urban Outfitters and Target. Nordstrom will
close most fitting rooms, but will leave a few open — two or three, depending on
the store.
For the retailers who are keeping fitting rooms open, like Saks Fifth Avenue,
clothes that are tried on are being cleaned and taken off the sales floor for 24
hours before being put back on display
The variance in how brands are treating fitting rooms comes from the fact that,
while most states in the U.S. have guidelines on whether stores can reopen and
how they should clean, there are
few guidelines on how brands should deal with the handling of product by so
many people.
Here's the list of various in-store safety initiatives retailers are using or
have installed:
Abercrombie & Fitch
On May 6, Abercrombie & Fitch announced it had started opening locations “where
regulations allow” globally. Stores are opening “on a rolling basis” and will
continue to do so going forward. Reopened stores will enforce social
distancing and provide contactless payment options. Stores were temporarily
closed on March 15.
It wasn’t immediately clear how reopenings would impact furloughed employees.
The retailer did say associates at reopened stores would use personal
protective equipment.
Amazon (Whole Foods)
On April 30, Amazon announced that Whole Foods would be asking customers to
wear face masks inside its stores, and provide disposable ones if
customers do not have their own.
Other safety precautions:
•
Set aside the first hour of grocery pickup at
Whole Foods stores nationwide for vulnerable customers.
•
Distributed personal protective gear and masks to
employees
•
Implemented health processes and temperature
checks
•
Employees diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive up
to two weeks paid time off.
Apple
More than 80 percent of Apple’s 510 stores worldwide remain closed, but the
company plans to reopen 25 more stores in the US, 12 in Canada, and 10 in Italy
over the next week.
Apple’s head of retail
Deidre O’Brien says temperature checks will
be conducted and all staff and customers will be required to wear face
coverings. Apple will provide coverings to customers who don’t have their
own, and will enforce social distancing rules with a limited number of
people in the store at once. “In every store, we’re focused on limiting
occupancy and giving everybody lots of room, and renewing our focus on
one‑on‑one, personalized service at the Genius Bar and throughout the store,”
O’Brien
writes.
Bed
Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond is beginning to welcome customers back into stores and are
extending curbside pickup to most areas. As they do, they will follow the latest
guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local
authorities, including the following precautions:
•
Associates in our stores
and distribution centers maintain a 6-foot distance at all times.
•
Associates are provided
with masks, gloves, and sanitizers; register barriers are in place.
•
All stores follow rigorous
cleaning procedures recommended by the CDC.
•
Measures include
self-check procedures and health reviews.
•
Cart wipes and hand
sanitizer will be available, and sneeze guards at registers.
•
To make social distancing
easier, we will limit the number of people in stores.
•
Early shopping hours for
customers over 60 and those at risk.
•
We’ll continue to offer
contactless, curbside pickup.
Best Buy
Best Buy said it planned to reopen stores gradually in May.
Customers will be able to
make appointments for in-store consultations at about 200 US Best Buy
stores. The company will also offer curbside pickup at its stores.
Here's how the appointment system works:
•
Customers can schedule an appointment online, over
the phone, on the Best Buy app, or through the live-chat function.
Before they arrive, customers will receive confirmation and reminders about
their visit.
•
A Best Buy employee will call shoppers ahead of
time to go over safety measures and discuss what they might be looking for at
the store.
•
At the time of the appointment, shoppers should go
to the store entrance, where a host will check them in and introduce them to the
sales associate who will be helping them.
•
The associate will shop with the customer,
following navigation and safety guidelines provided by signs and stickers on the
floor.
•
If a customer wants to demo a product, the worker
will wipe the product down with disinfectant, let the customer handle it, and
then wipe it down again afterward.
•
When making a purchase, the customer will be taken
to the front register, where there will be sneeze guards. The credit-card
machine and screen will be wiped down after each use.
•
A Best Buy employee will escort customers outside
the store when they have completed their purchase.
BJ's
BJ's has taken various safety precautions to protect associates and
customers, including:
•
Updated shopping hours for
members 60 and over to between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Limits
on how many members could be in a store at any given time (no more than 20% of a
club’s total capacity will be allowed to enter a store at a time)
• Signage throughout stores and runs audio announcements to encourage social
distancing
• Assigning employees to enforce social distancing in checkout lines
•
Temperature checks to all
employees in the coming weeks; employees with an “elevated temperature” will be
asked to go home
•
Provide masks and gloves to associates “as supplies permit.”
Costco
Effective May 4, “most” U.S. Costco stores will return to regular operating
hours with various safety precautions:
•
Require shoppers to wear a
face covering that covers their mouth and nose while in store
•
Senior shopping hours will be available at certain stores from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
weekdays, with a few exceptions
•
Previously the company stated that, effective April 3, no more than two people
would be able to enter the store with each membership card
Dick's Sporting Goods
As of May 5, a notice on the retailer’s website said it was reopening stores in
some areas of the country.
Some of the safety precautions Dick's is implementing include:
•
Enforcing social distancing protocols
•
Installing sneeze guards
•
Offering curbside pickup
•
Having designated shopping hours for at-risk
customers
•
Requiring employees to wear face coverings
DSW
DSW announced it will implement sterilization procedures and safety measures as
it starts to re-open almost 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.
There are also several new procedures in-store, including “contact-free”
shopping by limiting transactions to credit, debit or gift cards only,
designating special shopping hours for senior citizens and other at-risk
customers, and designating merchandise try-on areas. Other initiatives in
place include:
•
Providing ongoing training for associates
regarding store cleanliness and customer interaction;
•
Monitoring associates’ temperature as they arrive
for work;
•
Posting associates at store entrances to monitor
customer entry and exit to minimize traffic in stores;
•
Installing sanitation stations at the front of the
stores, including hand sanitizer and gloves for customers;
•
Posting storewide reminders to remain six feet
from others and directional signage limiting traffic flow within the aisles to
one way;
•
Adding health shields at registers and wiping down
between customer interactions at registers; and
•
Implementing a process for sanitizing merchandise,
and a separate protocol for sanitizing returned merchandise.
More information is available
here.
Gap
Gap said
Wednesday it planned to reopen up to 800 of its Gap, Old Navy, Athleta,
Banana Republic, Janie and Jack, and Intermix stores before the end of May.
In the reopened stores, Gap will:
•
Implement new cleaning routines and install
hand-sanitizer stations at front doors and cash wraps.
Close fitting rooms temporarily.
•
Install plexiglass guards at registers.
•
Post signage reminding customers to follow
social-distancing guidelines.
•
Reduce store hours and actively monitor "the flow
of customers in stores."
•
Temporarily close restrooms and quarantine returns
for 24 hours before returning them to the sales floor.
•
Supply employees with face masks and encourage
customers to wear face coverings while shopping.
Holt Renfrew (Canada)
Luxury multi-brand retailer Holt Renfrew has a game plan to reopen its stores
across the country after all were shut in March due to the COVID-19
(coronavirus) pandemic. Three of Holt Renfrew’s stores are set to open again
this month, including stores in Calgary and Vancouver, as well as the new Holt
Renfrew Ogilvy store in Montreal which has been under a multi-year
expansion/renovation.
The company’s other stores, all located in the Greater Toronto Area, will open
at a later date which will likely be in June. The openings come at a time when
some consumers may pull back on luxury spending as has been seen with other
recession periods.
The company has announced plans and protocols to facilitate the store reopenings,
including housekeeping, hygiene, in-store circulation, and new services which
Holt Renfrew says are part of a strategy for adapting to changing customer
behaviours:
• Prior to
re-opening, each store will undergo a deep cleaning of all front and back of
house areas
• Increased daily sanitizations will occur throughout the day including
sanitation of all high touch areas including pay stations, all conveyance,
railings, door handles, washrooms, fitting rooms, and more, after each use
• Hygiene protocol will include hand sanitization stations which will be
made available throughout the stores including at all entry points
• Employees
and customers will be required to sanitize their hands upon entry into Holt
Renfrew stores
• All
store team members will wear disposable gloves and masks while in the stores,
and disposable gloves and masks will be made available for all customers who
wish to receive them
• All
high touch surfaces, including point of sale, PIN pads, and phones, will be
sanitized after each use, as will fitting rooms in the stores
• The
in-store beauty halls will become “touchless” and for the foreseeable future
• All
of Holt Renfrew’s seven stores will operate on reduced hours once they reopen
• Stores
will feature signage indicating a minimum of two metres physical distance for
all front of house areas including fitting rooms, payment desks, escalators,
elevators and other store components
• In-store
elevators will be restricted to only those who require them for assistance
• Employees
will be trained on the in-store circulation measures both on the sales floor as
well as in the back of house areas
Kohl's
Kohl's plans to reopen stores in 14 states by May 11.
The
company said it would make the following changes:
•
Close fitting rooms and ban the use of beauty
testers.
•
Shift operating hours to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
•
Place signage and floor decals to encourage social
distancing.
•
Close additional entrances so stores will operate
with a single point of entry.
•
Assign an employee to the front of the store to
greet customers, sanitize carts between each use, and limit occupancy.
•
Require Kohl's employees to wear masks and gloves
while in the store.
•
Remove in-aisle fixtures to increase space for
customers.
•
Install protective barriers at registers and offer
touchless payment options through Kohl's Pay on the Kohl's App.
•
Clean checkout lanes after each customer
transaction.
•
Make hand sanitizer available at each register and
throughout the store for customers.
•
Dedicate shopping hours every Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.for at-risk people including seniors, pregnant
women, and people with underlying health conditions.
•
Require Kohl's employees to participate in
mandatory wellness and temperature checks before their shifts.
Kroger
Kroger has issued a "Blueprint
for Business" designed as a guide for grocers, restaurants, foodservice
companies and others for creating safer workspaces during the coronavirus
outbreak and shaping plans as much of the idled economy starts to reopen in the
coming weeks. "We are sharing what we've learned to help businesses begin to
reopen safely and in sync with their respective state plans," Kroger CEO Rodney
McMullen said of the guide, which also includes input from business leaders in
such places as Italy and China, which weathered the worst of the pandemic ahead
of the US.
We will continue to add new information to the Blueprint in the coming
days and weeks, so when the timing is right for businesses to safely reopen,
we're all prepared to keep our communities safe and supported, together.
This first installment of Sharing What We've Learned: A Blueprint for Businesses
includes a 17-page PDF of recommendations, insights, best practices and
downloadable
creative assets to help businesses navigate the next phase of this
unprecedented pandemic. We will continue to update the Blueprint in the coming
days and weeks, providing additional resources, tools and templates for other
industries to leverage.
thekrogerco.com
progressivegrocer.com
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Macy's
Macy's
reopened 68 stores this week and plans to reopen most of its 775 of its
stores by mid-June, the company said in a recent
presentation.
The states where Macy's stores have already reopened include Georgia, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee.
In reopened stores, Macy's plans to:
• Place
hand-sanitizer stations in high-traffic areas, including entrances, escalators,
elevators, and cash registers.
• Install plexiglass
shields at registers.
• Close some fitting
rooms and frequently sanitize those that remain open.
• Hold items that have
been tried on or returned for 24 hours before returning them to the sales floor.
• Implement "no-touch"
beauty consultations and bar customers from handling testers. Test products may
be used with single-use disposable applicators.
• Suspend "spalike"
services, alterations, bra fittings, and ear piercings.
• Increase the
frequency of cleanings in high-traffic areas, including fitting rooms,
bathrooms, and break rooms.
• Require customers to
use hand sanitizer before trying on jewelry.
• Post signs
reminding customers and employees about social distancing and safe hygiene
practices.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom said earlier this month that it's preparing to open its stores in
phases and laid out a number of changes that shoppers could expect when they
visit.
In reopened stores, Nordstrom plans to:
• Limit the number of
customers in stores at any given time. Employees will be stationed at store
entrances to count customers and offer guidance.
• Close some fittings
rooms and clean those that remain open after each use.
• Hold clothing that
has been tried on or returned for a "period of time" before returning it to the
sales floor.
• Increase cleaning
and sanitizing, especially around high-traffic areas, like checkout counters.
• Add plexiglass
partitions — also known as sneeze guards — to checkout areas.
• Shift to contactless
payment options. In other words, customers must pay with cards and not cash.
• Add drive-thru order
pickup and dedicated parking spaces for returns.
• Suspend services
like alterations; beauty makeovers; skin-care and specialized services like brow
shaping and fittings for prostheses and bras; and dining-in services at
restaurants. ATMs and water fountains will also be closed.
• Shift from in-person
styling appointments to virtual consultations.
REI
REI on May 12 said it has begun reopening stores, some just for contactless
curbside pickup and others for a limited number of customers.
Safety requirements for reopened stores:
• Employees are
required to wear face masks in REI stores, distribution centers and “any
location being staffed by employees deemed ‘essential personnel.’”
• Some employees will
be required to wear gloves, but gloves will also be available for any employees
who want to wear them.
• The retailer is
requiring employees to check for symptoms before each shift and stay home if
they feel sick.
• Temperature checks
will also be implemented.
• Reduced operating
hours, which will vary by location
• REI will ask
customers to wear masks, and will provide masks and gloves for those who don’t
have them
• The retailer will
also put social distancing measures in place
• Fitting rooms and
drinking fountains will be unavailable
• Clean stores
frequently
Staples
In an announcement on March 19, the office retailer described itself as
essential, with customers continuing to rely on it for supplies and services.
The company did, however, implement safety measures in response to COVID-19:
• Reduce hours at all
U.S. stores
• Limit the number of
customers allowed inside stores, per CDC guidelines
• Asked customers not
to enter the store if they were sick
• Required social
distancing (six feet between each person) in stores
•Drivers were no
longer requiring customers to sign for deliveries of online orders
• Associates are asked
to stay home if they are sick, with job protection, and requested that they wash
their hands every 30 minutes
Target
Some precautions Target is taking in response to the pandemic:
•
Actively monitor and limit
the total number of people inside of stores when needed
•
Signage, floor decals and
audio messages were also installed in stores to encourage social distancing
•
Reduced hours, with all
stores closing by 9 p.m. local time
•
Every Wednesday morning,
Target offers a dedicated shopping hour for “vulnerable guests.”
• Provide personal
protective equipment, including masks and gloves, to workers in its stores and
distribution centers
The Body Shop
As of May 7, the retailer’s website said U.S. stores would be temporarily closed
“until it is responsible to reopen.”
The retailer previously announced that stores would be closed until at least
March 27. When stores do reopen, The Body Shop will institute these safety
precautions:
• New store operating
hours
• Limited number of
people allowed in stores
• Follow social
distancing measures
• Pull back on testers
• Employees will wear
masks and gloves
Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty said it's planning to open 180 stores starting May 11.
In reopened stores, the retailer plans to:
• Require face
coverings for employees and request that customers wear them, as well.
• Ban the use of
product testers. Ulta will keep open products on display only to showcase
colors.
• Place signage and
floor decals in stores to encourage social distancing, install protective
barriers at registers, provide options for contactless payment, and limit store
occupancy.
• Hair services will
be available in select stores by appointment only. "Safety measures for salon
services include required face coverings for guests and associates, gloves for
associates, increased laundering of capes and aprons, staggered stations to
support social distancing, and added sanitization processes," the company said.
• Regularly clean and
disinfect public spaces throughout the day and intsall hand sanitizer stations
for customers.
• Require employees to
participate in wellness checks before the start of shifts.
Walgreens
On May 5, the retailer said stores nationwide would resume standard operating
hours.
The company has implemented various safety precautions, including:
• Plexiglass shields
at point-of-sales spots at the pharmacy and front of store
• Signage throughout
stores to encourage social distancing
• Expanded drive-thru
offerings to include select grocery items, prescriptions and infant formula,
among other things
• Provide face covers
to employees working in its pharmacies and stores, as well as distribution
center employees
• Conducting health
screenings, including temperature checks, at certain locations
• Workers who test
positive for COVID-19 will have two weeks of paid absence
• If any company
workplace falls under a mandated quarantine the impacted employees will be paid
for their absence without using paid time off
Walmart
Walmart has remained open, but they have still implemented various safety
measures to ensure both customer and associates are kept safe.
Some of these measures include:
• Dedicated associates
in every store to clean high-traffic, high-touch areas, like checkouts and
shopping carts, every day
• A single, clearly
designated entrance and another clearly designated exit at each store
• Institute one-way
movement through aislesin a number of stores, using floor markers and direction
from associates
• Installing sneeze
guards for pharmacy and store registers
•
Limiting the number of people in a store at once to allow no more than five
customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20 percent of a
store’s capacity
• Requiring that
associates wear masks or other face coverings at work - this includes stores,
clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, as well as corporate offices
• Encouraging
customers and members to wear face coverings when they shop
• A senior shopping
hour every Tuesday for customers age 60 and older who may be more vulnerable
• Drive-thru,
no-contact curbside pickup and mail delivery pharmacy options
Important Store Info -
Supporting Associates -
Supporting COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing
Wayfair
The retailer announced April 6 that it had implemented no-contact delivery,
with no signatures required, and delayed its shopping holiday Way Day. Its
fulfillment, logistics and transportation facilities remain up and running.
Hourly workers in its fulfillment centers and home-delivery operations have
received pay increases and “other incentives,” and policies were put in place
to ensure social distancing. Delivery teams have been told to wash hands
or use hand sanitizer in between deliveries and stay six feet away from
customers. The retailer has also started temperature checks at
“several locations.”
7-Eleven
The c-store stated that it is doing everything it can to “safely remain open”
during the pandemic, including:
• Recommending that
stores temporarily close between midnight and 5:00 a.m. so employees can clean
and restock
• Installing
plexiglass sneeze guards at all sales counters in all of its U.S. stores
• Extending delivery
through third party platforms to reach as many customers as it could
SOURCES:
retaildive.com
businessinsider.com
glossy.com
sgbonline.com
retail-insider.com
Property Owners
Develop Reopening Frameworks
Retailers and developers are beginning to prepare to reopen their locations. A
number of big players in the last few days have announced location reopening
strategies.
Peterson Companies
The Washington D.C.-based developer Peterson Companies provides a
framework for reopening its shopping center locations. The developer did
focus on one especially thorny issue: "Our Code of Conduct has been updated to
reflect the new safety protocols and our security teams will be trained to
diplomatically approach customers who are not complying with updated codes of
conduct," the company wrote.
Simons Property Group
Simons Property Group, which owns around 200 malls and outlet centers, announced
plans to open half of its locations over the next week. Simon published a
ten-page protocol about how it's tackling and strategizing its
reopening. It provides definitions of key terms, as well as a list of potential
vectors and exposure points. In terms of implementation, it approaches it via
three prongs: what it, as a developer, is doing to provide a less risky
environment, what retail stores must do and what customers must do.
SOURCE:
modernretail.co