During a visit to Bideford last week, Amanda Murray, managing director of an events company, popped into lifestyle and gift store Sunshine & Snow to test out the ‘new normal’.
“I went in to buy a greeting card, telling my husband that I would be five minutes but, in fact, I stayed in the shop for a good half an hour as there were so many lovely things to look at and I was free to roam!” Amanda told GiftsandHome.net. “It was an incredibly relaxing, spacious interior to wander round, with calm soothing music, and I felt very comfortable and at ease in there.”
Amanda said she was pleased to see that social distancing was taken seriously. “The shop floor was clearly marked out with how far apart you needed to be and hand sanitiser was displayed on a lovely stand,” she continued. “But there wasn’t a queuing system, or any indication as to how many people where allowed in the shop. Nevertheless, because it’s such a huge shop that’s spread over two floors I didn’t feel concerned at all.”
She eventually came out with a dress and two greeting cards. “In fact, I saw two dresses that I liked, and was surprised when I was told that I was allowed to try them on. However, I was assured every item is thoroughly steam cleaned afterwards before being put back on the rail. There were screens over the payment desk and I paid with my card rather than cash.”
Top: Sunshine & Snow in Bideford was a magnet for consumer Amanda Murray.
