No changing rooms and hand-cleaning stations: This is what clothes shopping could look like post-lockdown

‘Shopping for clothes won’t be as friendly as it has been in the past’

Boris Johnson has announced all non-essential retailers will be able to reopen in England from 15 June, a move which will include clothes shops.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown, normal shopping habits have been thrown out the window.

Drapers reported in-store sales have dropped 84 per cent compared to 2019, and – despite online grocery sales surging – for the rest of the retail landscape things look bleak.

It is hoped the reopening of shops will give a boost to the economy and reverse the fortunes of the high street, but things will not go back to normal; shops will be expected to adhere to strict guidelines to reduce virus spread.

So what could the new rules mean when it comes to shopping?

The Independent has spoken to a number of retailers including Arcadia – which owns stores such as Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton – and Next regarding the next steps, with all confirming that they are currently in the process of working on plans and further guidance for the government.

Here is everything you need to know about how coronavirus might alter the shopping landscape, from when you can expect stores to reopen to how people’s spending habits have changed.

When will clothes shops reopen in England?

Mr Johnson said the reopening of shops is still contingent on "progress in the fight against coronavirus" being made.

Provisionally all non-essential retailers will be able to open from 15 June, it was confirmed on Tuesday 26 May, and some will be able to reopen even earlier on 1 June.

These earlier re-openings will include outdoor markets and car showrooms.

What about the rest of the UK?

The leaders of the four nations of the UK have been choosing different ways to ease the coronavirus restrictions, with first ministers Nicola Sturgeon, Mark Drakeford and Arlene Foster all rejecting Mr Johnson’s new “stay alert” slogan.

Instead, they have opted to retain the original “stay at home” message, while lifting selected parts of the lockdown at their own pace.

In a speech last week, first minister Sturgeon suggested the re-opening of shops will not be happening in the coming weeks, as they are only in phase one of the easing measures.

What safety measures will retailers have to take?

Before non-essential retailers can begin to reopen, businesses will need to seek guidance from the government on how to go about doing so safely.

Supermarkets and pharmacies can provide a glimpse into how shopping might look post-lockdown, with spaced-out queues, physical screens at till points, controlled entrances and contactless payments.

The government has provided some guidance for people who work in or run shops, in which it states that the number of customers allowed in store will need to be limited and that shops should consider implementing one-way flow systems and queue management.

“Shopping centres should take responsibility for regulating the number of customers in the centre and the queueing process in communal areas on behalf of their retail tenants,” the guidance states.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and shop workers’ union Usdaw have also drawn up a series of recommendations in readiness for the easing of the lockdown with the suggestion of closing or limiting access to changing rooms, employing security guards to manage entrances and encouraging customers to pay by card.

The document also recommends that shops install cleaning stations to provide hand sanitiser where possible.

Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, said: “Retailers are closely following developments from government on when restrictions might be eased and are starting to plan accordingly. The safety and wellbeing of colleagues and customers remains the highest priority and these guidelines aim to support everyone in the industry.

“Since the lockdown many retailers have proved how shops can be run safely and effectively in line with the government’s social-distancing advice. This guidance is the product of retail’s incredible efforts to adapt to exceptional circumstances.”

Speaking to The Independent, Professor Joshua Bamfield, director at the Centre for Retail Research, said that he believes fashion retailers will reopen in two phases.

“In stage one there will be rigorous social distancing, which will also mean no trying on of clothes and a problem about ‘returns’. Shopping for clothes won’t be as friendly and casual as it has often been in the past,” he explains, adding that chains with large units like Marks & Spencer and department stores might have an advantage because of their large floor areas and the fact people can retaining social distancing while shopping.

Bamfield predicts thatt stafe two will take place towards the end of 2020, when social distancing rules will be “gradually dismantled by the government and shopping becomes more normal”.

“Retailers have to manage the process of keeping shoppers and staff safe and selling merchandise and there may be a creeping liberalisation (eg allowing more people into stores at a time) as Autumn winds on,” he says. “But it is going to be really difficult for everyone large and small, out-of-town megastore or small gents’ outfitters. The rules as now set out will make shopping for clothes no fun at all.”

How has the lockdown affected people’s shopping habits?

A recent survey of nearly 3,000 people conducted by YouGov found that, unsurprisingly, groceries have become the most common online lockdown purchase among British households (40 per cent).

However, despite two months of the nation staying in, clothes and beauty products come second at 29 per cent. This figure is especially high among younger people, with nearly two in five 18 to 34-year-olds having bought fashion or beauty products while in lockdown.

A separate study by Nationwide Building Society found that nearly two-thirds (6 per cent) of people said their spending habits have changed with around a third (32 per cent) stating that the pandemic has made them more mindful of their purchases.

Craig Summers, managing director at supply chain commerce solutions firm Manhattan Associates, said that this trend for online shopping is likely to continue post-lockdown.

“Many consumers are likely to still be cautious of entering stores even after lockdown restrictions have been lifted, the surge in e-commerce orders is unlikely to disappear anytime soon,” he said.