PROTECTIVE Perspex screens at consultation points, designated team members for shoppers, fewer selling zones, and reduced numbers allowed into stores, but customers WILL be permitted to try on jewellery.

That’s life after lockdown for a Reading jeweller which is preparing to reopen on June 15.

Family-owned jeweller, Beaverbrooks, has revealed comprehensive plans for reopening safely, which include floor markings and physical boundaries to ensure safe social distancing for customers and colleagues, daily temperature checks for team members, and hand sanitizer stations at the entrance and throughout the store which will be mandatory for shoppers to use before entering.

READ ALSO: Caversham cafe and lifestyle store, The Collective, opening this week.

Each store team will have a customer host to greet shoppers upon arrival and a designated team member to provide personal service and assistance during their visit.

Masks and gloves will also be available for customers should they choose to wear them, and individual appointments will be permitted for special purchases such as engagement rings, but will be limited to the beginning and end of the day.

The Reading jeweller has also outlined the measures it has put in place to allow customers to try on jewellery safely, as it believes sentimental items and considered purchases such as gifts should be seen by customers up close and in person.

It has introduced a rigorous hygiene process to enable them to do this, with limited stock rotated on a regular basis and the use of a specialist cleaning solution that will disinfect jewellery between wears, killing germs without damaging valuable diamonds, jewellery or watches.

READ ALSO: Reading neighbours share £3MILLION lottery prize.

Anna Blackburn, managing director at Beaverbrooks, said: “An engagement ring is one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make and to be able to see the sparkle and brilliance of a diamond for yourself and fall in love with the ring is so important – it’s a special moment and an experience you can only really get by being there in person.

“The introduction of our jewellery cleaning process and increased hygiene measures will mean customers can do this safely, allowing them to continue to celebrate those special moments that are perhaps more important now than ever before."

Beaverbrooks was one of the first retailers to take the decision to close its stores and online warehouse operations ahead of the government’s official announcement in March.

Following updates to government guidance and significant changes to its warehouse operations, it resumed its online operation on April 15, and currently has a team working in the warehouse, with limited personnel and reduced hours, in order to safely process online orders.