The High Street re-opens
SIMON CHAPLIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CHAPLINS FURNITURE
V “There are some things in life for which seeing is believing. Our Hatch End showroom is one of them. Home to over 180 of the most exciting furniture and lighting brands, it’s a space in which to look, touch and imagine new ways of living. In order to reopen safely post-lockdown, we put into place a variety of new measures. The first was to implement an appointment booking system, as opposed to our previous walk-in policy. While it was originally born out of the desire to minimise the number of clients in-store at any given time, we’ve found that it’s allowed us to attend our clients with even more exclusivity and care, so it’s here to stay!
“The second was to increase the sanitisation of touch points and shared areas in the showroom. Cleaning is now conducted on a continual circuit throughout the day and there are dispensers with alcohol gel perched (atop coasters!) throughout the showroom.
“We’ve also given members of the team permission to work from home for part of the week or as and when needed. We know a lot of people were taken off guard by the WFH revolution, but if we’re honest, it’s been on the cards for a while. Covid-19 has just served to accelerate such trends.
“Upon booking their appointment, customers receive a confirmation email with the details of their private viewing and a gentle reminder re the guidelines for physical distancing in-store. Face masks are compulsory and we ask that clients keep these on for the duration of their appointment.
“Deliveries have also changed somewhat. We’re currently operating two-man deliveries, and each of our in-house team has their temperature checked before heading out.
“While we’ve always rung to schedule slots with our clients, many clients now opt for kerbside deliveries where appropriate. For deliveries where installation is required, our delivery team arrives with fresh PPE and maintains a safe distance at all times.
“We really missed the faceto-face conversations and connections we create with each one of our clients on their journey to authoring their forever home. So it’s lovely to be able to have those in-store again. The same goes for our trade clients and interior designers who depend on our finish library and design team for help with larger projects.
“Our showroom also happens to be flanked by some of Greater London’s best lunch spots. Seeing the wood ovens firing up again in Minori’s and the return of the lovely crew at Sea Pebbles has given us real hope after such a long winter interlude!”
Chaplins Furniture 477-507 Uxbridge Road, HA5 4JS 020 8421 1779 chaplins.co.uk to wear masks and we have a Perspex unit covering our whole security door frame entrance. Once inside, we have hand sanitisers, plus a supply of masks and gloves. Inside our showroom we have screens to separate our staff from customers.
“We are incredibly excited to have reopened, to actually see human faces again and interact with old and new customers after almost one year.”
Jewellery Cave 8B Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT, 0208 446 8538, 07770 303745 jewellerycave. co.uk