By Mary Lau
Since last spring, Nevada’s retailers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, and we have made a lot of changes to the shopping experience to keep our customers and employees safe. Some of these new safety precautions are clearly visible throughout the stores while some new technology is working behind the scenes. This holiday season, Nevada’s retailers are ready to do our part to keep our communities safe.
Shopping during the pandemic looks much different than it did a year ago. When you visit a retailer, you will likely now find dedicated parking for curb-side pickup, directional markers throughout the store, spaced at least 6 feet apart, and plastic partitions at each cash register.
In addition to what you see in-store, there are countless other precautions taking place behind the scenes to keep you safe. E-commerce availability and popularity has exploded, making it easier for retailers to efficiently fulfil orders with fewer touchpoints and exposure. Additionally, many stores have adopted new employee health screenings where employees are encouraged to take their temperature before they arrive at work and stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID.
The newest technologies being added this year use infrared sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor the number of customers in store at any given time. This means retailers are able to make real-time decisions based on not just how many people are entering the store but how quickly they are, on average, completing their shopping. This is allowing retailers to increase or slow traffic into stores to keep their occupancy well below current restrictive limits.
These are just a few of the things retailers are doing to keep their customers safe this holiday shopping season, but we can’t do it alone. There is no connection between an increase in cases from the shopping experience, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make greater efforts to “shop smart” this holiday season. If all Nevadans took a few more precautions, we can all work together to reduce the spread of COVID.
This holiday season take advantage of the new technology to not just get some great deals but also do your part to slow the spread of COVID. By utilizing e-commerce and app-based shopping, you can score some great deals from your own home, and when you do visit a store, make a plan to limit the amount of time you need to complete your shopping.
Nevada retailers are working hard to keep their stores safe this holiday season. With a little preparation and a lot of cooperation, we can all work together to make this a memorable and safe holiday season.