Running a successful, profitable business in the midst of a pandemic is no easy feat. However, it’s not impossible. One of the keys to making sure your business is okay is by prioritizing the health and safety of people. In addition to protecting your employees, consider the following ways you can actively make sure your customers remain safe as well.
Require masks
It’s really unfortunate that masks have become a political issue. There are plenty of people who have lost their lives because they refused to believe that the masks were helpful. When you wear a mask, you dramatically decrease your chances of spreading the virus. It’s also important to remember that a person might not display any symptoms, but they have the virus because they’re asymptomatic. Knowing this, make sure there is a sign at the entrance to let customers know that they must wear a mask the entire time they’re in the store. If they refuse to wear the mask, they can’t come inside. These are the rules for everyone’s safety.
Maintain a cleaning station
If your store involves the use of shopping carts and basket, set up a station at the entrance of the store. Assign an employee to that station throughout the entire time the store is open. It’s okay to work in shifts and assign others to that station. However, make sure someone is always there to clean the used carts, provide new, clean carts to incoming customers, and refill the different bottles with hand sanitizer and more.
Limit the number of customers
When you’re examining the number of customers who can remain in the store at the same time, you’ll want to consider a few factors. First, take a look at the county mandate. If the mayor or county executive won’t allow any more than 1/3 of the normal capacity, you’ll be able to look at your capacity limit to determine the number for your particular building. After all, no two businesses are the same. A grocery store might be able to hold 100 people while a small boutique might not be able to hold more than 12. Secondly, always remember that social distancing is essential. By investing in floor stickers or markers to indicate how far apart the customers can stand in line, this will help everyone maintain at least six feet as they remain safe. Lastly, it’s best to limit the number of people within any given indoor facility because if anyone has the virus, they’re less likely to spread it to a ton of people at one time. The less contact a person has with others, the more likely everyone can slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
Clean the stores multiple times per day
When the coronavirus lands on a surface, it can remain there for hours. If a customer touches a product and has unknowingly contaminated it with the coronavirus, the next person who comes in contact with that item can easily contract the virus. This is why it’s best to cover your bases with regular cleanings. Cleaning the store a few times a day might feel overwhelming. However, if you have the right equipment, it doesn’t have to be extremely difficult. The EvaClean System allows a person to cover more bases with one cleaning. With the disinfecting sprays and machinery, it’s possible to quickly clean and disinfect surfaces a few times each day. It’s also wise to allow the store clerks to keep wipes and disinfecting sprays at each register.
Make employees wear gloves
When employees are handling various transactions, it’s better for the employees to wear gloves as they handle everything. As long as they’re regularly cleaning their stations and changing their gloves, they’ll decrease their chances of spreading the virus from one customer to the next. This means that gloves will become a major line item in the store’s budget. However, it can make a difference in decreasing the chance of cross-contamination.
At first, this process will feel like a pointless mission. Yes, it’s a large undertaking. However, you’ll be able to rest a bit easier knowing that you’ve done everything in your power to promote the health and safety of your customers. The coronavirus continues to take lives each day. If you can do your part to minimize the chances of the spread while people visit your store, it’s worth the effort.
