A 150 year old specialist independent gift, home and cookshop store in Buxton has decided that, like John Lewis, it is abandoning click and collect for safety reasons, and has instead launched a live stream personal shopping service – via Facebook Messenger video chat – for the duration of the lockdown period.
“Our click and collect service has been suspended during lockdown to discourage people from leaving their homes,” explains the store’s owner Martin Coles-Evans. “Our free local delivery is done in person and allows us to keep engaged at a very personal level with our local customers, many of whom are really missing us with our doors being closed during lockdown.”
Martin says that so far, there has been a good response from customers. “We have had great feedback with this new initiative, with a handful of customers using the service so far,” Martin. “It is very early days, and this completely new way of shopping with us, but it’s a great way for us to serve our customers – from the safety and comfort of their homes.”
Customers are invited to make an appointment by sending a Facebook message, and a member of the team then guides them around the shop, answering questions and providing product advice.
Adds Martin: “We are ever evolving and adapting with each lockdown hurdle, but becoming stronger and more resilient each time. 2021 has been a difficult start, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I am optimistic that things will get much better soon!”
Top: For the duration of lockdown, Hargreaves & Sons in Buxton have paused click and collect and switched to Facebook Messenger video chat.
