To support the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) campaign to reopen garden centres, a guidance document has been produced to ensure all garden centres open in a safe manner for staff and customers alike – should the Government formally announce a relaxation.The document has been informed by leading HTA retailers, the British Retail Consortium, and the relevant government guidance as a recommendation of best practice regarding social distancing. It includes guidance on products to be sold, customer numbers in stores, entrance and exit protocols and queueing and checkout procedures. The HTA has also produced accompanying signage that can be downloaded from their website to support the implementation of social distancing measures. These resources are available for HTA and non-members alike, given the importance of this issue to the country.The HTA will be asking all their members to agree to adhere to the guidelines before they reopen. This sign up process will be managed via...

The coronavirus (Covid-19) is affecting everyone and completely changed our way of lives for the foreseeable future. Small business owners and the self-employed have been hit particularly hard financially, with many not being able to work or having to close up completely. DIY Week is keen to learn how you are coping and to share this information with others who may well be in the same boat, so thank you for taking part in this survey. How has your business been affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic?

Click here to take part in the poll on our home page...