Retail

Fitting rooms allowed when UK retailers reopen on Apr 12

07 Apr '21

1 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

UK apparel shoppers can use fitting rooms after more than a year when non-essential retailers are allowed to reopen on April 12, according to new guidance released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The government had advised shops after the first lockdown to keep changing rooms closed ‘wherever possible’ unless essential.

Retailers have been calling for updated regulations in an effort to compete with online rivals, reduce return rates and restore faith in high street businesses.

Fashion retailers are advised to deploy a staff member to control entry to changing areas and allow only one person at a time into a cubicle, with exceptions allowed for those who have disabilities or are shopping with children.

Managers are advised to leave a gap of ‘several minutes’ between customers and cubicles should be cleaned regularly, according to UK media reports.

The guidance adds that fashion retailers should create “procedures to manage clothes that have been tried on, to minimise contact between customers and staff”.

However, it stops short of advising that clothes items should be quarantined after customers have tried them on.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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