Christmas is always important for retailers and in 2020 it could literally decide whether or not a business can survive. Hopefully, retailers will already be well on the ball with their Christmas marketing. It is, however, vital that they are equally on the ball with their Christmas safety measures. Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.

The early-bird Christmas shoppers are already busy

According to a survey by Opinium for American Express, almost a third of UK adults have started their Christmas shopping. Two-fifths of them have started it earlier than usual. Interestingly, the main reason for this was not that customers were concerned about overcrowded shops being hotspots for COVID19, but the desire to save money.

The mainstream retailers are already responding. Amazon, Boots and John Lewis have started offering Christmas deals. Major high street retailers are also ramping up their online capacity and delivery companies are working alongside them. Presumably, this activity will increase even further with Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Advertisement

Online is the safest place to be

Even if you’re not set up to sell online, you could use a website to display your products. Ideally, you would have customer’s pre-select items for collection and on-site payment. This would have two big advantages. Firstly, it would allow you to keep stock out of the way of thieves. Secondly, it would get people in and out of your shop quickly.

Retailers must be prepared to manage footfall effectively

Keeping people moving is often an issue at Christmas. This year it will be even more of a concern and retailers need to be prepared for it. The alternative is facing the risk of being shut down and many retailers literally will not be able to afford this.

The easiest way to manage footfall is to encourage customers to come to your store throughout the day and often the easiest way to do this is to arrange click-and-collect schemes. If this is not possible, then at least try to encourage people to book in advance.

Once they are inside your doors, think about how you can facilitate social distancing. This may mean sacrificing some of your retail space, so you will have to think through the implications of this. For example, you could have smaller displays but replenish them more frequently. Obviously, this may have an impact on staffing implications.

Thieves will almost certainly still be working this Christmas

Even with COVID19, it’s hard to see thieves having a holiday this Christmas. Emptier shops might make them easier to spot, but it also makes it easier for them to dash to the door. A private security guard might therefore be a good investment. A security guard can also be useful for helping with basic crowd control.

Keep in mind that employees can also be thieves. Your permanent staff may be reliable, but if you’re taking on extra help, be sure to vet new team members thoroughly.

emember, however, that vetting only checks what they’ve done in the past. You will still need to ensure reasonable supervision. Again, a security guard can help with this.

Advertisement