Electrical retailers in Scotland who are offering click-and-collect services to customers must do so by appointment only under the latest COVID restrictions announced by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon (pictured).
From this Saturday (January 16), customers cannot go inside a non-essential store to collect goods.
Shops selling items such as electrical products, clothing, footwear, baby equipment, homeware and books will be allowed to offer click-and-collect, but collections must be outdoors, with appointments staggered to avoid queuing.
From the evening of January 16, customers of takeaway food outlets in Scotland cannot go into the premises – they must be served at a doorway or a serving hatch. The new rules also apply to coffee shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, but not convenience stores and supermarkets offering takeaway.
Responding to the latest announcements, David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), said: “The situation with the pandemic is fast moving and we fully recognise the Government wants people to stay home.
“However these further revenue-crushing restrictions and the fresh complexity they bring, together with constant chopping and changing to the Covid Strategic Framework, are disconcerting and come at an incredibly difficult time for retail.”
He added: “Firms operating click-and-collect or food-to-go takeaway have taken every reasonable step to make their operations as safe as possible, complying with every twist and turn to government guidance and often at pitifully short notice. They have demonstrated they can operate safely and have invested significantly to make their premises COVID-secure, and it appears no evidence to the contrary has accompanied this announcement.
“The businesses affected – who have already lost much of their income during the crisis – are trying to make the best fist possible of the current severely curtailed trading conditions, and that just got even harder as a result of this decision which will add to their cash flow woes.”
Looking ahead, he warned: “The blunt reality is that the taxpayer-funded grant support on offer won’t make up for lost sales and firms’ mounting bills and debt during this pandemic. Even when we eventually emerge from lockdown shops will be unable to trade at capacity due to physical distancing and caps on numbers in stores, while the threat of a return to full business rates liability in April still looms. Decisive action is urgently required to extend rates relief into 2021-22 and avoid April’s reverse cliff edge which will see 100 per cent reinstatement of business rates.”
Mr Lonsdale added: “It’s vital shoppers continue to play their part, by shopping considerately, where possible alone, wearing face coverings, and following in-store signage. These are incredibly difficult times and it’s up to everyone to follow the rules to keep us safe and the virus at bay.”
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