Having been closed for more than two months due to COVID-19, non-essential retail stores will be permitted to open again from 15th June 2020. However, store managers and business owners will be required to implement social distancing measures in order to reopen their premises.

While the latest updates confirm that businesses will be able to open from mid-June, customers should expect some changes when they visit store locations. Many businesses are implementing queue systems to limit the number of people in their stores at one time, for example. Similarly, many firms are installing plastic screens at checkouts to minimise the risk to both their staff and their customers.

One of the most important measures for retail stores is the implementation of one-way systems. By streamlining the flow of customers, it’s believed that people will be able to remain at least two metres away from one another, as per the social distancing guidelines. For businesses, permission to reopen on 15 June will be dependent on your ability to enforce the post-lockdown guidelines and provide a safe environment.

Store owners, merchandisers and marketers have always understood the impact that visual merchandise has on customer behaviour. In fact, it’s routinely used to modify store layouts and encourage customers to visit every part of the shop floor. While these methods are typically used to increase sales and boost customer lifecycle value, they can now be utilised by businesses who want to meet the relevant regulations and re-open as early as possible.

Three-dimensional displays are the cornerstone of visual merchandise, although there are plenty of other tools you can use to modify your store’s layout. By placing displays in strategic locations, you can facilitate a flow of one-way floor traffic and make your business premises safer than ever before.

Although businesses are eager to reopen and most people are looking forward to start visiting non-essential stores, there is still concern amongst the general public that easing lockdown restrictions will cause a second wave of coronavirus infections. Due to this trepidation, store owners will need to approach the regulations carefully in order to ensure customers aren’t alienated or unduly worried.

Fortunately, visual merchandise offers a range of benefits in this respect, including:

Shoppers are used to seeing visual merchandise in all types of store environments. From clothes stores to hardware shops, almost every retail environment uses visual merchandise. When it’s used to implement one-way shopping systems and corral the flow of customers, it can do so in a way that won’t cause alarm, concern or worry. Instead, customers will feel reassured by your efforts to provide a safe environment and confident about their ability to shop safely.

Visual merchandise is used by almost every retail business precisely because of how effective it is. When displays are used to showcase goods and promote purchase incentives, they have a significant impact on sales figures. However, they also provide a reliable way of managing your store layout. With your floorplan already mapped out, visual merchandising makes it easy to implement new routes through your shop floor. This will minimise the risk of people inadvertently breaching the restrictions and, therefore, enable your business to remain open and thrive in a post-lockdown environment.

Visual merchandising acts as a temporary way to promote products and manage your layout. The freedom to modify your displays ensures you can showcase products at their best, inspire shoppers to try something new or to make an extra purchase and, ultimately, to increase your revenue.

However, it’s the flexibility of visual merchandising that makes it so attractive to business owners. At a time when the guidelines appear to be changing regularly, it’s important for store owners to have access to flexible tools. If the guidelines regarding in-store shopping are updated again, you can simply move your displays and other visual merchandise to facilitate the amendment. This gives you the versatility you need to adapt to a constantly evolving framework and ensures you can adhere to the latest guidelines without any further disruption to your business.

Although many companies have been eager to re-open their doors to customers, confirmation that non-essential shops can re-open in mid-June was only given relatively recently. As such, store managers will need to act quickly if they are to meet the relevant regulations and re-open their doors without breaching the guidelines.

Luckily, visual merchandising can be created quickly, providing you have the right resources. By partnering with a professional print firm, you can have bespoke visual merchandising created in time for your grand re-opening.

What’s more – professional print companies are adept at bringing your designs to life. Instead of lacklustre and uninspiring posters advising customers where to stand and which way to walk around your shop floor, why not use stunning visual merchandise to guide shoppers, promote your products and increase your sales?

At IPW1, we’re committed to helping businesses get back on their feet following their forced trading suspension. As well as supporting local firms and nationwide companies, we’ve taken our own in-house measures to protect our staff and clients during this time. Due to this, we have an in-depth knowledge of the challenges businesses are facing due to the spread of COVID-19. This insight means we’re perfectly placed to help you create spectacular visual merchandising to guide shoppers through your stores.

Whether you already have designs which can be updated to facilitate your needs or you’re starting from scratch, we’re on hand to provide the assistance you need. Our state-of-the-art printing systems ensure fast turnaround times, so there’s no need to worry if you haven’t planned your re-opening strategy just yet. Our dedicated team are working around the clock, so you can rely on us to provide you with custom visual merchandise in time for you to re-launch your business.

To find out more or to discuss your needs in more detail, contact IPW1 now on 020 7437 3200.