Hi everyone,
With the easing of lockdown measures and the reopening of non-essential retail, you might have wondered when exactly you will be able to pop into your local O2 shop again. And we are happy to announce that we are committed to backing the high street:
- New research from O2 shows the high street is on the verge of a footfall bounceback, with 90% of people looking forward to the opening of non-essential retail stores and 65% planning to shop for things in stores they would have brought online during lockdown
- O2 has invested £3.1m in stores nationwide since January in preparation for reopening, with a further £1.3m planned by mid-2021
- Flagship O2 stores are unveiling new technology including holographic shopfront displays of O2’s Bubl robot, heralding a new high-tech era for the high street
- Smaller towns stand to benefit from retail revival as movement studies show people more likely to shop local
As retailers across the UK prepare for the reopening of non-essential retail, bosses at the mobile network O2 are backing the nation’s high streets, with a £4.4m cash injection to ensure stores are ready for a ‘new generation’ of shopping. O2 has already invested £3.1m in store facelifts nationwide since January, and is expected to add a further £1.3m by mid-2021.
The new store refits make greater use of the shop space, providing a fresh look and feel which includes new store furniture. O2 has also replaced all existing lighting with energy efficient LED lamps, as part of its work to become the UK’s first net zero mobile network.
Shops in locations including Romford, Perth and Grimsby stand to benefit, with O2 investing in smaller out of town premises, as the pandemic changes the way customers choose to shop.
New holographic technology will also appear at the front of Flagship stores – at The O2, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham – injecting something new onto the high street to help encourage customers back into stores. The hologram will take the form of Bubl – O2’s loyal and reliable blue robot – who will be helping to ensure customers have the best possible service as well as demonstrating new products.
In addition, O2 also continued to invest in its people with a comprehensive customer service programme prior to reopening to help ensure a fantastic customer experience for all shoppers. You can read more on what we have planned here.
Reopening safely
O2 will be redeploying technology rolled out last year to ensure staff and customer can access stores safely, ensuring they are COVID safe environments. This will include virtual queuing technology, allowing all customers to skip the queues and instead join a virtual system, receiving a text when an advisor is ready to assist them in a personal one to one appointment.
O2’s store teams will also implement the following process in stores:
- Social distancing measures throughout each store, with clear two metre floor markings
- Personalised service with a limit on the number of customers in-store at any one time
- Appointment system to make sure customers are not held in unnecessary queues or kept waiting
- Contactless payment limit has been increased to £45 with email receipts.
- All employees will be equipped with the appropriate PPE, including face coverings
- Screens at all open service areas
- Enhanced cleaning processes across stores with all product displays, furniture and chairs to be sanitised after every customer
NHS and Care Workers who show their ID badges will also be given VIP access to skip the queue to speak to an advisor in store.
