Sports Direct to reopen stores from June 15 with House of Fraser to follow a few days later
SPORTS Direct will reopen stores from June 15 as lockdown rules are eased, with House of Fraser branches to do the same a few days later.
Fraser Group, which owns both brands, hopes to get the businesses back up and running as soon as the Government allows them to.
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All non-essential stores were ordered to close on March 26 to reduce the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Almost three months on, they have now been given the go-ahead to open again from mid-June.
As well as all Sports Direct stores, Fraser Group plans to reopen Flannels, Jack Wills and GAME stores in England from June 15.
In total, the group has more than 800 stores across the UK.
Five steps businesses need to take before reopening
BEFORE reopening, businesses are encouraged by the Government to follow these five guidelines:
Carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment
- carry out a risk assessment in line with the HSE guidance
- consult with staff or trade unions
- share the results of the risk assessment with staff and on company websites
Develop cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures
- encourage people to follow the guidance on hand washing and hygiene
- provide hand sanitiser around the workplace, in addition to washrooms
- frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly
- enhance cleaning for busy areas
- set clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets
- provide hand drying facilities – either paper towels or electrical dryers
Help people to work from home
Businesses should take all reasonable steps to help people work from home by:
- discussing home working arrangements
- ensuring they have the right equipment, for example remote access to work systems
- including them in all necessary communications
- looking after their physical and mental wellbeing
Maintain 2m social distancing, where possible
- put up signs to remind workers and visitors of social distancing guidance
- avoid sharing workstations
- use floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance
- arrange one-way traffic through the workplace if possible
- switch to seeing visitors by appointment only if possible
Where people cannot be 2m apart, manage transmission risk
- consider whether an activity needs to continue for the business to operate
- keep the activity time involved as short as possible
- use screens or barriers to separate people from each other
- use back-to-back or side-to-side working whenever possible
- stagger arrival and departure times
- reduce the number of people each person has contact with by using "fixed teams or partnering"
It says it will take a phased approach, and will open House of Fraser shops once the Government has issued further guidance on larger stores reopening.
The retailer hasn't yet announced which stores will be opening first.
All warehouse, back-office and shop-floor staff will be given PPE and perspex screens will be put up at the tills to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
In some stores, customers will have to shop using a one-way system and aisles will be widened where possible to make room for social-distancing.
Where possible, shoppers will also be encouraged to pay using their card and all fitting rooms will remain closed.
A Fraser Group spokesperson said: "The safety and wellbeing of our staff, customers and their families remains our primary focus, and we are investing heavily to ensure social distancing and other recommendations will be followed.
"A dedicated, specialist team – including external consultants - will be continually reviewing and, if necessary, adjusting all procedures once we reopen."
Billionaire boss Mike Ashley - who owns Fraser Group - came under fire in March for announcing that it would keep Sports Direct stores open during lockdown, declaring it was a vital retailer.
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But he made a u-turn 12-hours later following outcries from employees and the public - with Tory MP Michael Gove also criticising the decision.
It wasn't without a fight though with boss Mike Ashley slammed for trying to argue with the Government that his stores were "vital" and should remain open.
Its online site continues to run as normal but a few after closing branches, it was accused of hiking home gym gear prices by 50 per cent online.
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