A major DIY and home improvement retailer is reopening some of its branches for a trial to determine if more can reopen.
Six branches of Wickes will open to the public tomorrow (April 30) with strict social distancing measures in place to protect colleagues and customers.
In addition to the new measures, the trial stores will operate shorter opening hours from Monday to Saturday, opening at 7am and closing at 6pm, with Sunday reverting to the trading hours of 10am to 4pm.
Initiatives that have been successfully deployed by other major retailers are being introduced to ensure customers can shop safely and colleagues remain protected, said a spokesperson.
Each of the stores will limit the number of customers in the shop at any one time, while clear signage and floor markers will advise customers to keep two metres apart.
Additionally, each shop has installed perspex screens at the tills and service stations, and colleagues on the shop floor will be using PPE.
Sanitising stations have been installed for customer use and the stores will only accept card and contactless payments.
Services such as timber cutting and paint mixing will not be available during the trial period and Showroom Kitchen & Bathroom design appointments are only available to customers virtually.
Refunds will be unavailable until all Wickes stores open fully, in keeping with the retailer’s extended policy.
Which stores are reopening?
Sadly Bristol's branch of Wickes is not one of the six which will be reopening for now, with the closest to the city in Cheltenham.
The Wickes stores reopening are: Pudsey, Cheltenham, Preston, Sevenoaks, Cricklewood and Hailsham.
They will all open to the public on Thursday, April 30.
The Wickes website remains open for customers, with options available for Click & Collect and home delivery orders across the country.
