April 12th. It’s been a long time coming, but non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality in the UK finally have a date for reopening. And this is followed by May 17th for indoor hospitality. We’re sure these dates will be ingrained into your mind by now.
Despite these being stressed as tentative, data-dependent dates, it’s still a huge relief to have some sort of timeline to plan to. It means businesses everywhere can now begin their reopening processes and, after months of monotony, start the road towards a proper, full recovery from this pandemic.
With this in mind, we’ve put together our top tips for reopening this spring. If you’re after a more in-depth reopening checklist for all customer-facing businesses – be that retail, hospitality, or anything else – let us know.
But, for now, let’s jump right in.
There’s no such thing as being overprepared
We cannot stress this one enough. The sooner you can start your preparations for reopening, the better. There are a lot of moving parts to consider, no matter your industry, and there’s no such thing as being overprepared. To open back up with maximum efficiency and productivity, you want to have everything sorted as early as possible.
When it comes to the safety of your staff and customers, being over prepared is probably the very best way to be. With your reopening tests and checks, be thorough. Check everything, even if it doesn’t seem essential at first glance. You don’t want the first time you’re using something post-lockdown – a staff fridge, bathroom tap, fax machine, or thermostat – to be when it matters most.
Get everyone on the same page
To make your transition into post-lockdown operations as straightforward as possible, you want your communication to be razor sharp. Everybody should be on the same page and informed on what’s expected from them.
You want complete cohesion between management and floor staff, and also between staff across different sites and departments. There should be no room for miscommunication when it comes to health and safety precautions or site security. Not only is this important for your organisation itself, but the more you prepare your staff, the more comfortable and efficient they will be when returning to work.
It’s also important to be on the same page as your customers. When sites reopen, we’re going to want everyone working together. So take the time now via email or social media to communicate expectations and plans with your audience.
Be positive
And finally, be positive! This will (hopefully) be the last time we have to reopen after a COVID-related lockdown, and that’s reason enough to celebrate.
As businesses, we have a lot of making up to do for the past twelve months. So why not take this next month to strategise and make your reopening experience as strong and positive as possible? Think sales, strengthening your customer experience, or shopping incentives. Anything you can do to come back stronger than ever and celebrate your organisation’s return.
At Inform, to say we are excited for April to roll around is truly an understatement. We’re thrilled to be back helping our clients find their feet and kick into action as seamlessly as possible. This is a really exciting time. And know that we’re here to support you and your business in any way we can.
The Inform People platform makes running your multi-site organisation a breeze. With real-time visualisation and reporting on checks and tests, streamlined audits, and flawless communication, we help you become even more successful. To find out more, get in touch with us via email or on +44 (0)161 713 4104.
