Signs, screens and sanitiser - how the high street's preparing to welcome customers again

When non-essential shops in our town and city centres open their doors on Monday it will be the first time they’ve let customers in since the end of March.

ITV News Anglia's Victoria Lampard reports on how our shopping experience is likely to be a rather different one.

It’s taken weeks of planning to prepare for the big day and for those who do venture out next week, it won’t be the shopping experience they’re used to.

Social distancing signs, screens and hand sanitizer are just a few of the safety measures customers should expect to see.

Queues to get into some stores are likely but retailers are hoping people will soon get used to the changes to their shopping experience.

  • Watch a video explaining the two metre social distancing rule

Intu Milton Keynes is advising people to avoid peak times where they might have to queue to get into the centre.

Social distancing stickers are likely to be everywhere. Credit: ITV News Anglia
A shop with Covid-19 warning signs in place. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Not all shops will choose to reopen on Monday, it will be a gradual process and some won’t have survived lockdown.

Paul Clement, from Ipswich Central, says some may open and find they can't make it work.

Screens going up in Quest in Bury St Edmunds Credit: ITV News Anglia

In Colchester they’ll be keeping a close eye on the smaller streets where queuing could become an issue.

Unwrapping screens at Denny Bros Supplies Ltd. Credit: ITV News Anglia
  • So what changes are stores putting in place?

At Denny Bros Supplies Ltd they’re putting screens up in areas of the store where staff expect to have longer conversations with the public. In other departments, they’re hoping customers arrive with a clear idea of what they want to buy.

Mandy Errington, the owner of DJV Boutique will be limiting the number of customers inside her shop and is encouraging people to book appointments.

DJV Boutique in Ipswich is encouraging customers to book appointments. Credit: ITV News Anglia
Loveone Gift Shop is only letting in one person at a time. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Loveone giftshop will only be allowing one person in at a time.