From Monday 15 June the remaining non-essential retailers in the UK will be able to reopen their doors after 12 weeks since the UK went into lockdown.
Outlets selling clothes, furniture, electronics, auction houses, indoor markets, and the like are allowed to welcome back in store trading while following the government’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Director of Caterham Valley’s property agents Martin & Co, Lucie Allan, said: “It’ll be great for Caterham once the shops are able to open again.
“We need that sense of normality and for people to have confidence in making purchases and trying to get life back on track as best they can.”
Although the family-run firm never stopped working, Allan said they appreciate being able to return to their offices.
However, the way we shop for our shoes, food, and homes will become part of a new kind of normal to preserve the efforts made during the quarantine period and suppress a potential second wave spread of the coronavirus.
Phoning up to view accommodation will not happen quite as it did before, according to Allan.
“Strict protocols have to be adhered to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the process, but at least they can now view properties again and move house,” she said.
To kickstart the economy with safeguarding measures in place, day-to-day life will be a learning curve for all.
The Caterham Business Improvement District’s (BID) website is providing resources to help businesses navigate their reopening by implementing advised social distancing and reviewing company processes to protect staff as well as customers.
Nonetheless, there are still questions around how will dressing rooms work, could outlets be impacted if they cannot immediately restock returned goods, and has the pandemic squashed one of the main appeals visiting a shop has over buying online — physically touching items.
