Chain store Penneys could be open 24 hours a day after the lockdown ends, it was revealed yesterday.
Chief executive George Weston said more trading hours would help the retailer grab back lost profits after being forced to shut their doors for six weeks in Ireland.
The stores are also being shut for a month in England, starting from tomorrow, where they trade as Primark.
Extended opening times would also allow for greater staff and customer safety in store.
Chief Executive George Weston told The Telegraph: “If we are able to trade in some stores up to 24 hours a day, then we can keep people more separate from each other more easily.
“We can keep the stores safer if everyone knows there are plenty trading hours and they do not have to rush on a Sunday into a six-hour period.”
Mr Weston said that the move “would be a great step forward” for the brand and it would allow them to sell their Christmas stock in advance of Christmas Day on December 25.
He added that it would relieve any panic among consumers that they wouldn’t be able to complete their Christmas shopping.
The Penneys boss said: “It will give customers the confidence that there will be time for them to do their Christmas shopping on the high street between Dec 2 - I hope - and the 24th.
“And it will allow my business to sell a lot of its Christmas stock.
“I think it would be a great step forward for the high street to be allowed extend opening hours.”
Yesterday, the company dashed the hopes of shoppers after they ruled out opening on an online store during lockdown.
A Penneys spokeswoman told the Irish Mirror : “Although we will look at alternative business models from time to time, there are no immediate plans to trade online.
“We do of course showcase our products on social media and our website, and our social media channels have over 22 million followers.”
