A third lockdown has officially started in the United Kingdom from January 6th. AMDEA, the UK trade association for the manufacturers of small and large domestic appliances, reminds that the majority of retail businesses will yet again have to close their doors. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have lockdown restrictions and their specific requirements can be found within the Government Guidance. We report some useful information the Association published to help the sector’s operators.
“Whilst ‘non-essential’ retail premises have to close businesses may continue to offer the following services:
- Electrical Retailers can offer a ‘front of store’ collection service, so customers can either call in advance or order online and collect their goods from outside the retail/ warehousing premises.
- Home delivery and installation of appliances that require some technical expertise to install, or, for example, where a householder could not realistically carry a washing machine up a flight of stairs, can continue to be done following the current ‘working in other people’s homes’ guidelines.
- Service personnel can continue to call upon and enter households to carry out repairs to appliances.
- Appliances can continue to be sold within retail premises where those retailers are deemed to be an ‘essential’ retailer, so supermarkets, hardware stores and pharmacy type outlets that sell small electricals.
- On-line/ Etail businesses can continue to offer their full range of services.
