The coronavirus lockdown measures have now been eased, leaving many people wondering when their favourite non-essential services are going to start up again.
The Government released a 50-page document last week detailing their plan for coming out of lockdown and now garden centres have become the first non-essential shop in the UK to be permitted to reopen, provided they abide by social distancing measures.
With that firmly in mind, what does this mean for when clothing shops could reopen?
When could clothing stores reopen?
As detailed in the Government’s 50-page ‘Covid-19 Recovery Strategy’, non-essential retail – such as clothing shops – could open on June 1 (but no earlier), depending on the rate of infection among the UK population.
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Businesses will need to prove they are a safe environment for shoppers, and they will need to make sure that customers can maintain social distancing in store.
Shops may also be expected to put restrictions in place to control the numbers of people in their stores in a similar way to supermarkets – which indicates that there’s a chance that when they are allowed to reopen, clothing shops may have to do the same.
Speaking to Sky News, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: ‘From the earliest, June 1, we’ll look at non-essential retail and how they can go back, only if the conditions are met, subject to wider monitoring so that we can proceed in a sure-footed way.’
Therefore the absolute earliest that you’ll be able to go into a clothing shop is June 1, but it’s possible that your favourite local stores could remain closed for a little while longer as the logistics associated with social distancing measures are arranged.
Raab added: ‘Then, from July 4 at the earliest, subject to the conditions, we’ll look at other sectors, and that will include hospitality, but it will also include personal care, and people like hairdressers.
‘Obviously, the proximity in those two sectors I’ve mentioned, hospitality and a personal care sector like hairdressers, is something where we don’t think we’re ready yet given where we are with the virus.
‘Our overriding goal is to make sure we protect people’s health, we don’t see the virus get out of control, that’s why we need to stay alert.’
Garden centres in England have already been allowed to reopen, with nursery bosses having to ensure visitors obey social distancing measures, such as keeping two metres away from others.
According to Which, industry experts think that retailers will be offering ‘big discounts’ in a bid to sell their products once they reopen.
Indeed, brands like Boohoo, Topshop, Gap, JD Sports, and Superdry and have offered 50% off deals already, and the likes of New Look, Office, Asos, John Lewis, Karen Millen have also offered deals on their wares.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/22/when-will-clothes-shops-reopen-uk-12742393/
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