“As we prepared to reopen it was very important to me that my team and customers feel safe. I sat down with my team, asked what their thoughts were and we came up with a game plan. The thing they seemed to worry most about was taking in repairs and changing watch batteries. We now dip every piece in alcohol, or steam it prior to inspecting it for repairs. For watches we sanitize the area after each customer. We also have more hand sanitizer than we know what to do with and wash our hands like crazy. We all wear masks and provide masks for customers who forget them. In addition we offer curb-side delivery if customers prefer. It seems like my customers really appreciate the steps we have taken.”
Joanna Gruver
Haywood’s Jewelers – Smith Mountain Lake
Hardy, Virginia
“After being closed for 6 weeks, we reopened on May 5, 2020. Here is a list of things and procedures that we implemented:
- Hired the daughter of an employee for full time to clean, meet the clients at the door, etc.
- Ordered 1000 of the blue/white masks not only for employees but for our guests when they came.
- Each mask was put into a Ziploc bag for distribution.
- These masks are offered to our guests, but we are in a county that masks are not mandated.
- As a retail business, ALL employees wear masks or shields when on the sales floor or past the POS counter.
- The response to the masks are different, some take them, put them on and say thank you, others just say no thank you.
- Only one bad response and he left after being very nasty with my 16-year-old.
- I had glass screens installed on the POS counter and the gold buying room window.
- We also have gloves that employees can wear if and when needed, such as battery installations, taking in repairs when the jewelry is really dirty, and also when buying gold.
- We encourage all employees to wash their hands as frequently as possible.
- We sanitize the front door handles, the cases and where guests and employees touch surfaces many times a day.
- All writing pens are sanitized after one use.
We have had very few guests complain about any of the things or procedures we have put in place. I like to think of the way we are doing things now as ‘business as usual’ and we are having record setting months for sales since our reopening.”
Michael J. Noe
Noe’s Jewelry
Raymore, Missouri
“Here at K E Butler & Company Jewelers we have done extra cleaning of the counters, showcases, doors etc. We have not made it mandatory for masks to be worn inside, but we have provided masks for our customers if they request. We also have provided hand sanitizers for the customers. We have actually sold face shields to many organizations in the community. I have not worn a mask and customers seem relieved that they don’t feel obligated to wear a mask while in the store.”
Earl Butler
K E Butler & Company
Vidalia, Georgia
“Safety precautions are very common sense here. Regular sanitizing throughout the day, Germ X out and available, and masks available. Masking here is optional and some of the staff are strict about masking and others are not. If a customer has a mask on we ask if they would like us to mask as well. Maybe 1 out of 20 make the request. Most customers are relieved that masking is not mandatory and take it very positively. This being said we have a low customer count in the showroom and limit the capacity to 10 people.”
Charles Marks
Marks Jewelry Co.
Wentzville, Missouri
We want your opinion for our Retailer Roundtable. To answer a question or suggest a topic for a future Retailer Roundtable question, e-mail your name, store name and location to bill@southernjewelrynews.com.
