All ‘non-essential’ retail to re-open from June 15

Thousands of high street shops, department stores and shopping centres were last night (May 25) given three weeks to prepare, as the government gave the date of June 15 for when non-essential retail could re-open its doors.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that non-essential stores – including those which sell licensed products such as clothing, toys and books – will be able to open from next month if the government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines.

Businesses will only be able to open from these dates once they have completed a risk assessment, in consultation with trade union representatives or workers, and are confident they are managing the risks. They must have taken the necessary steps to become COVID-19 secure in line with the current Health and Safety legislation.

The government is publishing updated COVID-secure guidelines for people who work in or run shops, branches and stores, as well as working with local authorities to continue to carry out spot checks and follow up on concerns by members of the public.

Measures that shops should consider include placing a poster in their windows to demonstrate awareness of the guidance and commitment to safety measures; storing returned items for 72 hours before putting them back out on the shop floor; placing protective coverings on large items touched by the public such as beds or sofas; and frequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly.

“Bira is pleased with the guidance being given to retail outlets,” commented Andrew Goodacre, ceo of the British Independent Retailers Association. “It provides a broad framework for the basic measures and still allows the retailer to be flexible according to the size, layout and location of the shop.”

All non-essential retailers in England have been closed since March 23.

Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow @LicensingSource on Twitter and @licensing_source on Instagram.

MORE NEWS
Bluey
 
Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Italian agent for the BBC Studios’ property Bluey, has announced a busy start to 2025 for the popular animated hit as the Bluey licensing programme continues to grow and production gets under way on the first-ever Bluey feature film for cinemas....
Hello Kitty
 
Sanrio has announced the launch of dedicated Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube channels in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. Fans can now enjoy their favourite episodes and special content in their preferred language, making Sanrio’s popular characters more accessible to audiences across India and beyond....
Taiwan
 
This year, Taiwan is making its first-ever appearance at the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K), presenting a selection of established and emerging IPs to the European market....
BolognaLicAwards_2025
 
The winners of the Bologna Licensing Awards have been crowned during the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids....
DocM_Bratz
 
Dr. Martens x Bratz celebrates Y2K aesthetic Featuring nostalgia-rich details, the first footwear and accessories collaboration between Dr. Martens and MGA Entertainment’s Bratz is inspired by the iconic dolls’ passion for fashion and unapologetic self-expression. ...
MouseMansion
 
Manita Schaapman, co-founder and creative director of The Mouse Mansion Company, will take to the stage at this year’s Licensing Conference to share the story of how a handmade universe turned into a global success....
Get the latest news sent to your inbox
Subscribe to our daily newsletter

The list doesn't exist! Make sure you have imported the list on the 'Manage List Forms' page.