With two weeks to go until the planned reopening of the majority of its clothing space on June 15th, M&S is today sharing details of how it is preparing to help customers shop with confidence for clothes for all the family.
Over the past nine weeks, M&S has run nearly 600 Food stores and so has extensive knowledge to help it operate its Clothing business. M&S has 260 stores that sell both Clothing & Food; these are led by a single manager so it means they and their team already have a brilliant working knowledge of the necessary hygiene measures to keep everyone well and how to manage social distancing and the flow of customers in and out of their store. When you visit M&S to shop clothing you can expect the same robust measures as when you’ve shopped food. M&S’s plans (summarised in the infographic attached) include:
- WHEN CUSTOMERS ARRIVE: A friendly colleague will manage the flow of customers in and out of all M&S stores to maintain social distancing – so there may be a short queue.
- WHEN CUSTOMERS ENTER: Hand sanitiser will available and the baskets to use will all be metal ones making them easier to be regularly cleaned.
- THROUGHOUT THE SHOP: Shop safely signage (pictured above) and floor markings will be clearly visible to remind everyone to give each other the space they need and to make it easier to find products – undoubtedly customers will be more mission focused in how they shop.
- SERVICE ALTERNATIVES: The M&S team will be keeping all close-contact services temporarily closed, this includes bra fittings, suit fittings and kidswear footwear fittings. The retailer has enhanced its bra fit tool on its website and colleagues will also be on hand to give advice.
- CAFES CLOSED: Cafes will remain closed to sit in, but selected stores* will offer coffee to go with contactless collection. These cafes have already sold over 24,000 cups of coffee since reopening.
- QUICK & EASY PAYMENT: All M&S tills will have perspex screens installed and clear signage encouraging contactless payments; M&S Clothing tills are set up to accept the new £45 limit.
- FITTING ROOMS: Fitting rooms will remain closed but for now M&S’s refund policy will remain at 90 days, helping customers shop with confidence.
- ONLINE OFFERING: M&S will continue to offer Click & Collect to all stores, 7 day a week, completely free.
