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Source: BRC

  • The BRC said retailers had been closely following government guidance, but that the public also had a vital role to play

  • Some of the biggest household brands have launched a separate campaign urging consumers to stay home and stay safe

 

Retail bosses have teamed up with Facebook to create a new safety guide for shoppers struggling to maintain social distance in stores.

The ads on the social network giant’s pages, as well as Facebook-owned Instagram, show how consumers should follow government guidance in stores to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The BRC said retailers had been closely following government guidance to ensure the safety of staff and customers, but that the public also had a vital role to play.

“The public will notice changes in store, with dedicated hours for vulnerable groups and NHS workers and some variation in products on shelves,” said BRC CEO Helen Dickinson.

“Customers should stay two metres away from everyone, be considerate in the way they shop and be kind to those who are working around the clock to ensure products get on the shelves. Help us to help you and those you care about.”

Katy Clark, head of industry, grocery, at Facebook, said: “We’re incredibly proud to work with the BRC and essential retailers in driving awareness and action of considerate shopping during these challenging times.”

Meanwhile, some of the biggest household brands have launched a separate campaign calling on shoppers to “do the right thing” during the Covid-19 crisis.

Brands including Kellogg’s, L’Oréal Paris, Essity and Reckitt Benckiser are urging consumers to stay home and stay safe, and respect shopping hours for the elderly as well as NHS workers.

The campaign includes the messages on the retailers’ websites and in email communications, and is accompanied by a #ShopResponsibly social media hashtag.

Annette King, CEO, Publicis Groupe UK, said: “Overnight we’ve seen an irreversible shift in the role retailers and brands play in people’s lives. We’ve also seen incredible efforts by so many businesses and their hard-working employees to do the right thing in this difficult time. Shop Responsibly unites the sector in an urgent entreaty to consumers to behave responsibly and think about others. We invite retailers, supermarkets and other business organisations to sign up to the campaign.”

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