Primark gives shoppers a glimpse of what their reopened ‘Covid secure’ shops will look like next week – but fitting rooms and toilets are staying shut for now
- Boss confirms there will be no discounts or sales at reopened stores
- Wide array of social distancing measures being implemented by retailer
- They include plastic screens, floor markings and extra security guards
Primark is reopening 153 of its stores from 15 June and has today released pictures showing what shoppers will face at its store in the Westfield Shopping Centre in London.
The boss of the company has confirmed there will be no sales or promotions on offer for Primark shoppers when its stores reopen next week.
The popular chain has been hit hard during lockdown, as it does not operate an online shopping website and has been forced to shut all its high-street stores.
All new: Primark’s shop in the Westfield shopping centre in London is reopening next week
The number of shoppers being allowed into a Primark store at any one time will be limited, and the company says it has hired ‘additional security staff’ to stem the flow of shoppers entering.
Toilets, fitting rooms and cafes and beauty concession areas, where they are installed, will remain closed, with Primark saying it will keep the situation under review as restrictions are lifted further by the Government.
Shoppers will have to stay two metres apart and will be confronted with markers on the floor and further guidance on social distancing on shop walls.
Primark added: ‘Frequent tannoy announcements are made in store reminding customers to adhere to social distancing measures.’
Outside stores, designated queuing lanes have been established to make sure too many people do not enter a store at a time.
Paul Marchant, Primark’s chief executive, said: ‘We have really missed our customers and we are delighted to be back on 15 June and able to provide them with the quality, affordable products they love from Primark.
‘While it might take a little longer to get into store, once inside, customers will find all their favourite Primark products and plenty of choice as usual. We have worked hard to make sure that clear signage and extra help will be there to guide them through the changes we have made to allow for social distancing.
‘We are also asking customers to respect the measures we have put in place to help ensure shopping at Primark is an enjoyable, safe experience for everyone.’
Owner Associated British Food shut all its Primark stores in March in the face of coronavirus, which it said resulted in a loss of around £650million for every month that all stores were closed.
It said that it cut more than 50 per cent off overheads at Primark in a bid to stabilise its finances during the pandemic.