Trade group warns of ‘chaos’ in shops as retailers gear up for new Welsh lockdown

The organisation is particularly concerned about which products are defined as “essential”, so can still be sold after 6pm today, and those classified as “non-essential” which retailers cannot legally sell during the 17-day firebreak lockdown.

James Lowman, chief executive of the ACS, said: “These regulations are badly thought out, providing little to no notice to retailers, and must be scrapped to avoid chaos in shops across Wales.

“The confusion and confrontations between customers and shopworkers that this rule will trigger will ultimately lead to more contacts and time spent in proximity to other people, which is the exact opposite of what ministers are aiming to achieve.

“Retailers must not be forced to stop making products available to customers just because ministers don’t think they’re essential.”

Lowman tweeted today: “Businesses, policy-makers and the enforcement community are all trying their best, with no established playbook, and it’s understandable when a wrong call gets made. This is the wrong call – confusion for businesses, more confrontation for shopworkers, no public health benefit.”

Some retailers will be forced to close when the lockdown starts but food shops, off-licences and pharmacies can stay open.

Under the new regulations, however, retailers such as supermarkets will be unable to sell items like clothes as they are classified as non-essential.

Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford said it would be made clear to operators they will only be able to open parts of their business that sell essential goods – but retailers were today still waiting for a definition of what products this definition covers.

The ACS has written to Mark Drakeford and expressed concern about the impact of lockdown plans on retailing. The letter says: “To date, all discussions between your officials and industry about the firebreak has been focused on the closure of types of business premises – not products.

“This last-minute change in policy approach will place huge additional operational pressure on the retail sector, our store colleagues and ultimately customers.

“Attempting to define, restrict and communicate the sales of non-essential products to our customers and colleagues with less than 36 hours’ notice is a near impossible task.

“This policy will also put our colleagues in the difficult position of having to refuse the sale of certain products in store that could be a flashpoint for violence and abuse which has spiked during this pandemic.

“We are concerned that the restrictions of product sales will also result in consumers having to make multiple shopping trips, instead of being able to visit one store.

“We urge you to urgently revise this policy approach and instead work with the industry to keep essential businesses open and support non-essential businesses to use other channels to serve customers during the firebreak.”

On its website, the Welsh government provides guidance on post-lockdown retailing by saying: “All leisure and non-essential retail will be closed. This includes clothes shops, furniture shops and car dealerships among many others.

“A full list of types of business required to close will be available in our guidance on business closures.

“Shops allowed to remain open include supermarkets and other food retailers, pharmacies, banks and post offices. However, wherever possible people should avoid unnecessary visits to these, and use alternative approaches such as online services and deliveries.”

The new firebreak lockdown starts today (23 October) at 6pm and continues until 9 November.