Toys, books and clothes: Stores reopen doors across England

hand sanitizing stations are rey, social distance markings in place. After a three-month shutdown under coronavirus restrictions, London’s Oxford Street is rey to spring back to life — but things will t quite look or feel “rmal” for British capital’s most famous shopping street.

“n-essential” retailers — those selling fashion, toys and books, among or items — are reopening Monday across England for first time since country went into lockdown in late March to try to halt spre of coronavirus.

While it’s a moment that many business owners have erly looked forward to, y aren’t expecting shoppers to rush back to what could be a strange, sterile experience.

Stores must meet Britain’s COVID-19 guidelines to ensure that shoppers and workers can stay safe. In many shops and malls, that means lining up to enter, using hand sanitizers at door and following a one-way traffic system inside. Plastic screens will protect workers from shoppers at payment counters and some shops will only take cards, t cash.

Browsing aisles will be a welcome change from scrolling online, but touching merchandise may be discourd and many changing rooms will be off-limits.

At London’s Oxford Street, which is rmally teaming with shoppers crowded shoulder-to-shoulder, businesses have installed scores of signs to ensure social distancing. Some sidewalks have been widened and extra bike stations were put up to encour shoppers to travel re without using city’s Underground subway.

With virtually tourists in town, London’s entire West End shopping and ater district is expected to see just 10% to 15% of its rmal customers this week. What it will miss most is its high-spending international tourists, for y w face a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Britain.

Fashion and luxury goods have been hard-hit industries in pandemic, especially as a deep recession looms for both Britain and world ecomy.

Linda Pilkington, who owns a high-end perfume boutique off London’s Bond Street, which is rewned for its designer and jewellery shops, says pleasure of going shopping for many customers is going to be dulled because restaurants, aters and or entertainment facilities still remain closed. She expects an extremely slow transition to a new rmal.

“People like social side of shopping. When you hit Bond Street and all grand shops, it’s an exciting event,” she said. “All those people coming to London for a show, making a weekend of it, that won’t be re. It’s just t going to be same.”

Pilkington’s tiny shop, Ormonde Jayne, will only let one customer in at a time. Shoppers will be encourd to sanitize ir hands and whole store needs to be wiped down every time a shopper leaves.

John Lewis, a popular British department store with outlets around country, says it’s hoping to turn lower shopper numbers into an vant.

“I’m hopeful that, while overall atmosphere will feel a bit different to m, what y’ll actually find is a kind of pleasant surprise that it’s calm, it’s pleasant, it’s well ordered,” said Andrew Murphy, director of operations. “But it’s also still got real vant of physical shopping experience and things that you can’t do online.”

To lure wary shoppers back, upscale department store Selfridges has lined up street performers to entertain anyone queuing up outside, while DJs will be playing music inside to liven things up. Selfridges said last time it h to close its doors was during World War II when it was hit by a bomb in 1941.

Analysts say pandemic has accelerated a shift to online shopping, t least because many businesses need to cut ir rental costs to survive. Paul Martin, U.K. he of retail at KPMG, believes that even as more stores reopen “consumers have formed new habits that will see online channel continue to be more prominent going forward.”

Sounding a te of optimism Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons to return to what country calls its “high streets” — local main street shopping districts in each community.

“People should shop, and shop with confidence,” he said.

Treasury chief Rishi Sunak echoed that plea on a BBC talk show.

“Shops up and down country are desperate to welcome us all back,” he said.