A New Hope
It’s an understatement to say that the last year has been tough for us all, but it has been very obvious that the retail, hospitality and leisure industries have borne the economic brunt of the UK lockdown. However, the news that these sectors will be able to begin reopening from 12th April means that there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. From both a personal and a business point of view, we at Iconic Project Management cannot wait for that to happen.
Many of the idle conversations we have in our household revolve around what we’ve missed the most during the months we’ve been at home. For me it’s been trips to pubs and restaurants – I love to socialise, especially if food and wine are involved.
With the rise of internet shopping, I haven’t left the house for anything other than walking the dog in months. In all honestly, I would never have described myself as a shopaholic but it turns out I have secretly been one all along. The other day, one of my children wanted some things from our local Poundland and I agreed to take him there. That little trip to just one shop was the highlight of my year so far.
We've Missed You
Whilst perusing the bargains in Poundland, it occurred to me that the thing that makes a shopping trip fun is nothing to do with what you’re buying or how much it costs; we’re there for the experience. It’s undeniably fun to browse goods, seeing what catches our eye, checking items out before making a choice. Some unwise online clothing purchases during the lockdown have shown me that the ability to try things on is valuable and I can’t wait for changing rooms to be open again.
I will never again take for granted outstanding customer service. We’ve been lucky enough to have some really fabulous takeaway meals from local restaurants during the lockdown. They have been prepared with care and beautifully packaged and delivered. However, there’s no way to recreate the pleasure of a really good waiter explaining the dishes to you and making suggestions.
More than anything, I miss the human connection you get from simply being around others. The hustle and bustle of our high streets is something I miss very much and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. I believe that the future of the high street can be a bright one. Those businesses who offer a really great customer experience will thrive.
Get Ready
At Iconic Project Management we have missed visiting your retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. More than that, we appreciate your importance in creating wealth in local economies, driving up standards of living for your employees and contribution to the financial wellbeing of the whole country.
If you are planning any changes to your premises before opening up once more, we want to support you. If you need any advice, please do contact us and we will do our best to help you, free of charge and with absolutely no obligation.
Good Luck
Above all, we wish you the best of luck for an exciting, vibrant and profitable future.
Author
Elizabeth Hewitt Director of Marketing at Iconic Project Management Limited. We specialise in retail, leisure and commercial construction.