Despite the relaxation of the government’s Plan B restrictions in England, legalised on January 26, many gift retailers will continue to ask customers to wear face masks while in their stores.
“We’ll continue to wear our masks – we’ve never stopped since they were introduced – and we’ll encourage customers to do the same,” confirmed Jo Barber, owner of No 14 Ampthill. “We have a supply of disposable masks behind the counter for anyone who’s unprepared but happy to wear one. The last time restrictions were lifted, we saw little change for around four weeks. In fact, even today, we’re still selling a surprising number of reusable masks.”
Julianne Moore, owner of lifestyle and fashion store MiMi, was fast off the mark on Facebook to let customers know that her shops in Hartley Wintney and Wokingham would ask customers and staff to wear face masks while in MiMi stores, even though Plan B has been relaxed. “Our message is ‘protect yourself and others – please continue to wear a face covering while in our stores’. As a small independent, we don’t have vast amounts of staff to cover the stores if an employee contracts Covid, so any protection we can offer the better,” she told GiftsandHome.net
However, Bill Nettelfield, owner of Bill & Berts in Colchester, is more relaxed about mask wearing. “All of us at Bill and Berts will be wearing masks inside the shop for the moment. However, we will not be asking customers to wear them when they enter the shop. On July 19th last year, when masks wearing was dropped before, I think we had at least 90% of people still wearing them. Yesterday, on the first day that the law changed again, the number was similar. However, I do expect the wearing of masks to drop off in the next couple of weeks.”
Meanwhile, in a poll sent to Bira members, (to include gift retailers), 50% revealed that they are still nervous about the restrictions being lifted by the government, with 55% believing that lifting the restrictions would increase footfall and confidence in the high street. Over 60% of Bira members were adamant they would be keeping themselves and their staff masked in the shop, while under half – 43% – will still be asking customers to wear face coverings when they are in the store.
Top: Bill Nettlefield, owner of Bill & Berts in Colchester, will not be asking customers to wear face masks, although members of staff will still be wearing them.
