"Hardest" retail shutdown, but scope for fittings
January 5, 2021
The “hardest yet” extension of national lockdowns across the UK closes all non-essential retailers, but floor fitting has scope to continue as tradespeople may work in consumers’ homes.
The strengthening of Covid restrictions yesterday closed all the remaining flooring retailers – the 20% that were outside the English Tier 4. In-store one-to-one appointments are also precluded by ‘stay-at-home’ legislation.
Restrictions put in place across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland impose similar constraints.
The opportunities for flooring retailers to continue to trade safely appear to be limited to online video and telephone sales calls, click and collect services and internet sales.
However there is more positive news for the many flooring retailers who have healthy order books and are still trying to catch up with the pre-Christmas backlog of fittings. Installations would appear to be OK in the new English legislation as the Government’s guidance states: “Where it is necessary for you to work in other people's homes - for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople - you can do so.” Strict Covid-secure procedures must be adhered to.
“Tradespeople” has been taken to include floor fitters in the previous lockdowns. Arguably the “tradespeople” definition may also include estimators and therefore allow limited home sales calls but this would appear to be against the spirit of the latest lockdown regulations.
Manufacturing and deliveries of flooring to retailers and to customers’ homes are not affected by the latest restrictions.
The strengthening of Covid restrictions yesterday closed all the remaining flooring retailers – the 20% that were outside the English Tier 4. In-store one-to-one appointments are also precluded by ‘stay-at-home’ legislation.
Restrictions put in place across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland impose similar constraints.
Exclusions to non-essential retail closure do not now include homewares – a category used by some in the furnishing sector to stay open last time. The new English legislation does allow “building merchants and suppliers of building products” to remain open, an exclusion cited by some flooring chains to remain open in the November lockdown, but it was noticeable that the latest Tier 4 regulations announced before Christmas specifically refer to “carpet stores” as premises which must close.
The new lockdowns are expected to last until at least the middle of February. The English regulations will be review on February 14 but the legislation is in force until March 31.
The opportunities for flooring retailers to continue to trade safely appear to be limited to online video and telephone sales calls, click and collect services and internet sales.
However there is more positive news for the many flooring retailers who have healthy order books and are still trying to catch up with the pre-Christmas backlog of fittings. Installations would appear to be OK in the new English legislation as the Government’s guidance states: “Where it is necessary for you to work in other people's homes - for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople - you can do so.” Strict Covid-secure procedures must be adhered to.
“Tradespeople” has been taken to include floor fitters in the previous lockdowns. Arguably the “tradespeople” definition may also include estimators and therefore allow limited home sales calls but this would appear to be against the spirit of the latest lockdown regulations.
Manufacturing and deliveries of flooring to retailers and to customers’ homes are not affected by the latest restrictions.
Moving house is still permitted to go ahead under the latest regulations in England.
Click here
for The Stocklists' updated guide to the regulations.
Click here
for the full Government guidance.
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