Practical advice for retail newsagents as we move out of lockdown

As Australia takes steps out of COVID-19 lockdown, small business retailers like newsagents are confronted with challenges to provide a safe and healthy workplace while maintaining a commercially viable business.

As we have been doing since late January, I have shared advice with customers of my POS software company on steps that can be taken in retail businesses in this evolving post COVID-19 lockdown world.

I was at one of my newsagencies yesterday ensuring implementation of this advice and more – we have set a one-way path for shoppers with more in the mall we needed to better manage traffic.

Here is some of the recent advice I have published. This list will evolve over time as we discover new resources.

1. Coronacast. The yesterday’s episode of this excellent podcast, released May 11, 2020, is about what we need to do in this lockdown easing situation. It’s about keeping you, your team and your family safe and healthy.
2. Social distancing. Reprint and replace your posters. Use this poster from the federal government. It is the one recommended. Consistent messaging is key. Place this at the entrance as well as in-store.
3. In-store advice. Click here to access up to date post lockdown advice for retailers from the Business resource Council of then UK. I have included this as I found some points to be interesting and relevant to Aussie retailers.
4. Refresh floor markings to show distance.
5. Maintain counter measures of distance at the counter.
6. Maintain good supply of hand sanitiser at the store entrance and the counter.
7. Reinforce hand washing and hand sanitising at the counter.
8. Maintain a regime of surface cleaning.
9. Out of store messaging. Use social media to rem ind your community what you are doing to keep them safe.
10. Home delivery. The vulnerable cohorts are as vulnerable as ever. Maintain home delivery and curbside pickup services.

We think it is critical for everyone to realise that nothing has changed from when the novel coronavirus was first discovered. There is no vaccine. It is highly contagious. It can be lethal to several cohorts of the community. The best was to deal with it is to reduce infections rates. The best way to achieve this is through personal hygiene and social distancing. Doing this in an environment of easing of lockdown is challenging.

We hope that our advice for small business retailers is useful.