Safety first as NI High Street stores prepare to open their doors
"We've also deep cleaned the entire shop from top to bottom and we have also redecorated and re-painted," shop owner Andrea Robinson
Last updated 11th Jun 2020
Small shop owners across Northern Ireland are putting the final touches to preparations for their long-awaited re-opening from lockdown.
High Street stores will be back in business tomorrow (Friday) morning as part of the Executive's easing of restrictions.
While the move has been welcomed as a "major step" to kick-starting our crisis-hit economy, there are concerns over social distancing safety measures for both staff and customers.
Andrea Robinson who owns Pretty Robin in Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone told Downtown & Cool FM that it is case of safety first as she prepares to open her doors.
"In the shop we have put up a hand sanitation station at the door and we have also clearly makred the floor with arrows - two metres apart it will be a one-way system," she said.
"We have also erected a screen protection at the counter."
Andrea says they have taken every precaution so that their customers can feel safe and at the same time get the best out of their "shopping experience".
"We've also deep cleaned the entire shop from top to bottom and we have also redecorated and re-painted," she said.
"Most importantly we want to stress to our customers that we want them to have a great shopping experience with us and these measures are only in place to keep the customer and our team safe."
Click here for a link to the shop
Meanwhile, Sammy-Jo Dickson who owns 14th Avenue in Dungannon, a small clothes boutique, said she had been working for weeks to ensure customers' safety.
"We are going to be limiting the customers in the store -we've got new signage, we've got posters, and we have a screen up beside the till," she said.
"All of the clothes have been re-steamed and we are going to be doing this on a regular basis."
She added while she could not wait to open, there were some concerns over the future generally..
"People haven't got anything to look forward to or even go for a night out," she said.
"So that's going to have a big knock-out effect on the fashion retailers ... but I'm feeling optimistic because luckily I have a loyal customer base and they are all really excited and can't wait for me to open."