The what, the why and the financial piggy bank of a Covid-secure workplace

approx 10 minute read

Back to business, as they say. We may have been given the go ahead to reopen our doors to the public but that does not mean that business will resume as usual. Ensuring that you have sufficient personal protective equipment in place, such as sneeze guards, floor stickers which outline social distancing and hand-sanitising stations, is of prominent importance in today’s world. This article will take you through the whys, and the whats of having a Covid-secure business, as well as the financial cost of implementing these measures.

Heading back to our beloved offices, restaurants and salons, although exciting, for many business owners is a daunting task. Not only do you have to implement processes and procedures that only a few months ago were completely foreign to us, you are also faced with the responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of your staff and customers.

Pivoting our own business and including Covid-secure materials in our product offerings, we have learned & educated ourselves as to what a variety of industries will require when they get the opportunity to reopen. As a result of this, we have created a number of resources over the last few months to help you and your business to become Covid-secure.

But the underlying concern on every business owner’s mind is…SHOW ME THE MONEY! Does fitting out your business to be Covid-secure have to be an expensive chunk of change? It can be overwhelming. It can be stressful. And it can be too much to think about amidst everything else. So let us take the stress out of it for you. Pop on the kettle, grab yourself a digestive biscuit and let us give you the low-down on the products you need to reopen and why.

The What: What is it to be Covid-secure?

Are you asking yourself right now “What on earth does my business need to be Covid-secure?” “What products are required to be Covid-secure?” or “What is it going to cost me?” These are all valid questions with very simple answers and solutions. To be Covid-secure means that you are actively implementing hygiene and social distancing procedures in order to ensure that the spread of Covid-19 is minimised while operating in public.

Depending on your industry, the products that would be beneficial to you, your staff and your customers can vary. It is an enormous responsibility to have on your hands if you are a business owner. But as the largest network of print, signs and web studios in the UK and Ireland, we know the importance of being prepared, economical and of course ensuring your clients feel comfortable and confident. We have created a guide to help you prepare your reopening with ease. This guide will give you an in-depth insight into what you need and why you need it. All I can say is welcome to the world of PPE, my friend. So yes, you should be asking yourselves those questions about what it means to be Covid-secure and let me tell you why.

But why is it important to be Covid-Secure?

The Why: Why should I invest in creating a Covid-secure workplace?

Reopening our doors to the public means that we have a responsibility to our customers and staff to implement routine health and safety measures to ensure that we are limiting the amount of contact between one another and possibly the spread of the virus. If that isn’t reason enough, I don’t know what is. But just to convince you further, here’s another reason as to why it is important to fit out your workspace with Covid-secure materials;

We know that many of us have depleted resources, however, when you are reopening your premise, it is important to look at the bigger picture. Despite being given the permission to reopen our doors, it doesn’t mean that the Global Pandemic is over. A focus on hand hygiene and social distancing is not going anywhere, any time soon.

I don’t want to say that things won’t ever return to the way we once knew, but for now these new rules are here to stay. Many consumers and employees are hesitant to venture into a store or return to work that lacks PPE. According to a study conducted by Salesforce, 62% of consumers require social distancing measures to be put in place in order to feel comfortable to return to shopping in physical stores. Bearing this in mind, put your best foot forward and implement Covid-secure practices throughout your business to ensure customer and employee satisfaction. If you need more information though check out our Prevent & Protect brochure to get a further insight into why being Covid-secure is so important in helping teams and clients feel safer and find it easier to do business with you.

But, what do I need? How do I become Covid-secure? And what will it cost?

The Piggy Bank: How much will it cost me to fit out my business to be Covid-secure?

An initial investment that will benefit your business in the long run. Make sure you’re also using these products as a new marketing tool! Your logo, brand colours and brand message will be scattered across and outside of your business, as well as on your online platforms. So in reality, you are also kitting your business out with new marketing collateral, killing two birds with one stone!

In order to make things easy for you, we have separated the cost of fitting-out your business into 6 different industry settings. Now, of course all of these things are not mandatory, but they are recommended.

As I plan to reopen my school, day-care or creche, what will I need to be Covid-Secure?

Planning the classroom and playground dynamics will require a lot of organisation and guidance. But don’t fret our Back to School guide will help you out! It takes you through each step from communicating with staff and parents to creating a Covid-secure space for everyone to get back to school happily. Here are a few products that we would definitely recommend for you;

Floor Stickers, in a pack of 16 Circle Vinyl Floor Stickers, from €97.20

Hand sanitising Unit, available in a variety of sizes, from €168.30

Desk Dividers, to keep everyone learning comfortable, from €102.60

Floor Stencils, to share messages and reminders throughout the yard, from €26.10

Window Decals, to make use of every space, reinstating important messages, from €35.10

Counter-top sneeze guard from €46.80

Branded Masks – A Must for Everyone

Depending on the industry that you work in, Face Masks may be vital for you. Especially if you work in the hospitality or beauty industries. Considering that your employees may have to wear a face mask for the foreseeable future, why not make them your own? Instead of having generic face masks, put your company logo and brand colours on them. We offer an array of face masks which our hand sewn by our team of seamsters.

Premium Face Masks – 5 for €49

Regular Face Masks – 25 for €180

Luxury Face Masks – 25 for €343

Children’s Premium Face Masks – 25 for €207

Top Tip: Promoting and marketing your Covid-secure business after lockdown

When you are reopening your business, it is important to inform your customers of your new policies, procedures and ways of working. We would suggest doing a mail drop and an email campaign telling your customers that you are back open. In order to encourage footfall through your doors, why not offer a discount code for in-store purchases, a free glass of wine with every dinner reservation or a free consultation? Ensuring your customers feel comfortable enough to visit you should be your main priority. Highlight the safety measures that you have put in place in your campaign. Customers love to feel special and appreciated, so why not reward them for being loyal customers during a particularly unusual time and fortify your customer loyalty through a gesture of kindness?

Send an A5 Postcard with details of your opening and loyalty schemes, from 250 for €112.50

Digital Newsletter for email campaign – Get in touch with your local studio for a quote

For you beauty salon business owners out there, we have a pro tip for you! Create an “exclusive gift bag” for your clients upon arrival. It may include a face mask, as well as the buffer & nail file to be used in their treatment. This is an effective way of increasing sentiment among your clients while simultaneously ensuring the reduced risk of Covid-19 during the visit.

If you are looking for advice and guidance when reopening your business, get in touch with your local Nettl studio, and we would be delighted to help you plan your reopening strategy and the materials that you need for your business to be Covid-secure.

Find your nearest Nettl

The what, the why and the financial piggy bank of a Covid-secure workplace

The What: What is it to be Covid-secure?

The Why: Why should I invest in creating a Covid-secure workplace?

The Piggy Bank: How much will it cost me to fit out my business to be Covid-secure?

How much does it cost to fit-out my restaurant?

What do I need to do to make my Salon Covid-secure?

When reopening my Hotel after lockdown I’ll need:

What does my office need to be Covid-secure?

As a retailer, what should I invest in when reopening?

As I plan to reopen my school, day-care or creche, what will I need to be Covid-Secure?

Branded Masks – A Must for Everyone

Top Tip: Promoting and marketing your Covid-secure business after lockdown