By guest author Sahar Nazir from Retail Gazette
- M&S stores will stay open but cubicle-based bra & suit-fitting services have been closed
- Contact-free delivery service will be available for clothing, home, flowers, hampers & wine orders
- Currency refunds will be offered to those who cannot travel due to the coronavirus outbreak
Marks & Spencer has announced that its stores and business functions will remain open, as it puts new measures in place to support customers and colleagues amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Chief executive Steve Rowe said staff from the clothing and home team will be joining the food teams to help with increased demand.
M&S’s clothing fitters will still be available to advise customers but the retailer’s cubicle-based bra and suit-fitting services have been closed until further notice.
“Colleagues across the stores and supply chain have been provided with additional hygiene products to use and extra cleaning is taking place to keep up our excellent standards for you and our teams,” Rowe said.
M&S has also introduced a contact-free delivery service for all clothing, home, flowers, hampers and wine orders to allow for zero hand-to-hand contact – with the driver leaving the delivery at a customer’s door.
Meanwhile, M&S Bank is set up to support those who are concerned about the impact on finances amid the outbreak.
Currency refunds will be offered to those who can no longer travel as a result of flights being cancelled.
“For over 135 years, M&S, our customers, and the communities we serve, have faced into challenges big and small, and come through them all by supporting each other and working together,” Rowe said.
“Now, as ever, the entire M&S team – across our stores, our support centres, our warehouses and in our supply chain – is working tirelessly to deliver for our customers.
“I would also like to say a huge thank you to you – our customers – for your loyalty and understanding during these exceptional times.
“It’s the kindness and support that we give to each other that will help us get through these unprecedented times.”