Reopening Resources
We thought we'd create a list of useful resources for the opening up process for our retail partners. We'll continue to update this as things progress! Feel free to email us anything that would be helpful to include: info@worldfinds.com
Store Layout Adjustments
There are a lot of things to consider from rearranging shelves to making directional aisles and steaming merch for a safe and socially distanced customer shopping experience.
Our Midwest museum shops are considering:
+ Leaving lower shelves empty where children are most apt to engage, so that spread is limited
+ Packaging lower cost items together in bundles for easier sell online
+ Thematic bundling
+ Having sanitizers, wipes, masks, and gloves in place for staff and shoppers before opening
+ Holding back stock in original polybagged packaging, so it can go to a consumer's hands untainted
+ Creating one-way traffic pattern directions through aisles
+ Encouraging contactless payment, credit cards and chip readers
+ Timed entries, and encouraging (or only accepting) online purchase of admission tickets to museum itself, where applicable
+ Constructing an outside tent or temporary structures such as a pop-up shops since current layouts in permanent locations might not allow for social distancing
+ Continue to promote curbside pickup and online shopping for reluctant in-person shoppers
+ Keep shop clean and merchandise steamed or sanitized
Product Cleaning Tips
Several of you have asked us how you should keep your WorldFinds jewelry and accessories sanitized in your shops upon reopening. We went straight to work investigating how the virus fares on our different materials, and have set up a 'testing lab' in our warehouse to see how everything holds up.
Here’s what we’ve determined works the best on our initial tests:
Metal Jewelry: wipe down with a cloth, and the findings can be gone over with a mild disinfectant.
Kantha Jewelry: spritzing with a spray hand sanitizer seems to be the best choice. We’ve been testing different types, and the jewelry has held up just fine to all of them. The fabric is staying put so feel free to spritz away!
Accessories: our repurposed Kutch and Kantha fabric accessories are also holding up well to spritzing with hand sanitizer. So for now that is recommended for all of our hair accessories, small goods, and bags.
Another option of course is to have only one piece per style out on the floor, and keep all back stock in sealed poly bags. Your customer may prefer to purchase a piece in a sealed poly bag or they might be just fine with the floor sample - everyone has different levels of comfort with all of this!
The CDC has recently stated that the virus ‘does not spread easily’ from contaminated surfaces or products. Read more here.
We'll plan to report back after more long term testing of all our items. And please let us know if you've discovered an amazing idea or solution to keeping everything shoppable while safe!
Safety Supplies
Many retailers have installed safety shields at the cash wrap for added protection. Azar Displays has an assortment of options.
The spritzing hand sanitizer we used to test our Kantha Jewelry is from the brand Everyone, and is Environmental Working Group certified. It's been out of stock recently, so we also tried a pump spray from Purell and it worked fine. You can always purchase a conventional brand and transfer it to a pump spray bottle.
Marketing Resources
We've gathered a library of images to help you with your new online store and to provide you with some content for social media. Make sure to follow us, and tag us @worldfinds and #worldfinds so we can cross-promote you!
Other Guides
Federal Assistance
