The National Bridal Retailers Association released Tips for Temporarily Closing Your Store in an effort to help bridal stores facing closure due to the COVID_19 virus.
As written by Ann Campeau, association director and owner of Strut Bridal, Los Angeles, CA and Phoenix, AZ:
TIPS FOR TEMPORARILY CLOSING YOUR STORE
Before posting publicly, notify affected brides first!
-- Send appointment cancellation notices via text, email and/or phone. Make a list of cancelled brides to follow up with upon reopening.
-- Call brides with close wear dates whose gowns are in your store for alterations, pick ups or final steams. Get the gowns out of the store.
-- Block out your online scheduler.
-- Set out of office responder on email; designate someone to check it remotely and send them home with log on instructions.
-- Post notice on your website, FB and IG page. Change your hours on Yelp, FaceBook, Google, etc.
-- Update your voicemail; designate someone to check it remotely and send them home with instructions.
-- Post notice on your door with alternate contact information (phone/text and email).
-- Contact your UPS and FedEx hubs to hold packages and notify you. Stop your mail delivery to the store. Contact designers to hold shipments, if they will
---Lower your thermostat, take out garbage, empty fridge and set alarm.
OWNER ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN ADVANCE
-- Come up with alterations plan - can brides continue at your seamstress's home? Should they keep working on gowns or stop completely?
-- Come up with a plan for postponed weddings - will you store gowns longer than per your contracts? Will you offer free alterations rechecks? Will you extend your payment plans?
-- Know if/how you will compensate staff in advance of any orders to close and discuss it with them.
-- Decide if you will turn off or lower daily limits on advertising (Google, FB ads, etc) to minimize expenses while you are closed.
