Retailers and property owners are working together to make sure shopping is as accessible and comfortable as possible for shoppers in the run up to Christmas (2-24 December) this year.
The Government has confirmed that all retail – essential and non-essential – will be able to open from today (2 December) and remain open no matter what Tier operates locally. Given requirements for social distancing, it is important that shoppers feel safe and comfortable. This will often mean that shops are open for longer, so that more people can get the things they want, at the time they want, and have confidence that there will be the space in stores for them to do so.
Stores on high streets can usually open without needing agreement from anyone else. Stores in shopping centres and retail parks should work collaboratively with the owner or operator to minimise any barriers to extended opening hours.
The BRC, BPF and Revo fully support retailers who want to open for longer and know that very many owners and operators support it too. They are calling on all their respective members to engage early and positively to enable it to happen.
The BRC, BPF and Revo are jointly asking their members to do the following:
- If retailers want to operate longer opening hours, they should contact shopping centre owners/operators to inform them of their plans as soon as possible
- Owners/operators of retail locations should contact retailers to inform them of what longer opening hours are possible
- Owners/operators of retail locations should assess how many and which retailers actually want to operate longer hours in this period
- Owners should apportion any additional costs (e.g. security, cleaning, essential maintenance) incurred as a result of longer opening among those retailers that want to open for longer through their service charges, which should be paid as normal