How South Shields wool shop Knit and Purl will welcome customers through its doors again

Owners of Knit and Purl, which has traded from its shop on Market Place for three decades, have been making major adjustments to keep customers safe when they reopen.

It comes as the Government confirmed that all non-essential retailers will be able to reopen from Monday, June 15, as long as they can comply with ‘Covid-secure’ guidance.

As part of the Gazette’s #SupportLocal campaign we are calling on everyone in the borough to back local businesses and help them survive as lockdown restrictions are eased and the economy restarts again.

Jacqueline Brown, who has run the shop for 12 years, has been offering online orders to keep her business afloat over the last few weeks, but is looking forward to seeing customers face to face again.

“We have had lots of support from our customers over the last few months, everybody has been so nice and understanding,” she said.

“We’re looking forward to getting back in and seeing everyone again.”

All shops must complete a Covid-19 specific risk assessment in order to open to the public.

To make sure the shop is safe, Jacqueline has had to make adjustments, such as installing perspex screens at the counter and hand sanitiser units.

Only three customers will be allowed in the shop at one time and a one-way system is now in place inside.

Shoppers will have to wear disposable gloves while they are looking at the knitting patterns and a perspex screen will now keep customers separated while they choose their wool.

Jacqueline will also be continuing to offer a click and collect service to prevent people having to queue up for long periods of time outside.

“We’re just trying to do as much as we can to encourage people to come back down,” she said.

“I have been finding it a bit strange wearing the face mask but it’s something that we have to do in order to keep people safe

“I’m hopeful that people will remember the service and efforts that local shops have gone to to help people during this time.”

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