With the exception of Victoria which has returned to lockdown, the Australian retail industry is welcoming the return of customers in to safe environments. After months of isolation, many consumers are returning to their ‘normal’ shopping trips. As shopping centres maintain hygiene and social distancing measures, the uplift in retail sales is an important one for the economy.
Recent media news have highlighted few incidents such as the customer at a Bunnings store in Victoria refusing to wear a mask, but the community on mass have adopted the ‘new normal’ and are adhering to instructions from retailers and centre management across the board.
The diversity of retailers in our sector means differing measures are taking place across the industry and consumers need to adapt to the new way of remaining safe while shopping. For example, Apple stores protect their staff and customers with mandatory face masks and temperature checks upon entry. The company’s exposure internationally where COVID-19 situations are much worse means stricter rules.
Commenting on Melbourne’s mandatory mask requirement, Angus Nardi, Executive Director of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) said: “Our industry was highly prepared, assisted by our ongoing partnership with the Victorian Government on key policy and operational issues.”
Nardi said “Pleasingly, we’ve seen a very high level of community compliance in our centres, with a very small number of exceptions being due to valid reasons such as infants, medical conditions and practical issues such as consuming food and drink.”
Generally speaking, if someone enters a centre without a face covering, they may be asked if there is a valid reason for not wearing one and depending on the circumstance provided with one, directed to where one can be purchased, asked to leave the centre or if Victoria Police are present, there is a risk of them being issued with a fine.
The SCCA has issued an industry protocol / guidance on the new requirement and continued to work with the Government on relevant policy and operational issues, in addition to key unions.
The National Retail Association’s CEO Dominique Lamb said: “Retailers have also had to face an increase in anti-social, aggressive and sometimes violent behaviour from customers. Indeed, since the outbreak of COVID-19, retail crime intelligence platform, Auror reports that violence towards retail workers from customers has risen by a substantial 17%. This behaviour is selfish, inconsiderate and inappropriate. The health and safety of everyone – shoppers and workers – should be the number one priority.”
It a statement this week, the Committee for Sydney called for face masks to be made mandatory in public places in Sydney. The advocacy group said that the move would help to slow the spread of COVID-19 infections and reduce the need for Sydney to go back into lockdown.
CEO of the Committee for Sydney, Gabriel Metcalf said, “It’s time to require masks in Sydney. Doing so now may be our best chance to avoid a second lockdown. Sydney is seeing a slow increase in community transmission of COVID. The maths behind doubling rates mean that numbers can start out low and then quickly grow. No one likes to wear masks. But we are all going to have to make some sacrifices to get through this pandemic. Wearing masks in public, indoor spaces is annoying, but it does not ask much of us.”
We stand poised on what’s next but we hope the retail industry remains safe for all customers to enjoy.
