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10 Safety & Security Tips for Re-opening Your Business After COVID-19

By Jewelers Mutual Group

After a long hiatus from your business, we know you’re eager to open your doors and get back to serving your customers. However, once businesses in your state have been given the okay to open, you still need to remain vigilant when it comes to security, employees, transporting jewelry stock, and more.

Here are 10 tips to help prepare your store for reopening.

1. Contact your agent to reinstate insurance coverage that may have been temporarily reduced while closed.

If a temporary endorsement was made to your on-premises stock limit, you will have to call your agent to bump coverage back up. We always want your store to be adequately covered.

2. Contact your safe storage provider or bank to set up a time to safely acquire or transport jewelry stock back to your store.
Once your given the okay to re-open, provide at least a 24-hour notice to the provider (i.e. Malca-Amit) securing your jewelry to schedule a safe pick-up or drop off. Make sure you understand the requirements ahead of time so you’re ready.

3. Take precautions as jewelry is set up in displays.
After jewelry stock is safely returned to a store, all entrances to the building should be locked and security systems should be activated. This is when stock not inside a safe or a display case is most vulnerable.

High-value merchandise should be spread across the showroom and the arrangement of items should be altered. This thwarts the threat of a burglar remembering exact locations of the items he or she wants.

4. If you have an exterior camera ask customers to momentarily lower their mask in view of the camera before entering your store.
We understand that many customers will continue to wear masks while going out in public after the safer-at-home orders are loosened. If it’s possible — before they enter your store – have security cameras set to get a view of their face, just in case anything may happen after they enter. Once inside your store, don’t ask customers to remove their mask as it’s a safety measure for customers and staff.

5. If an outdoor camera isn’t available, ask for a driver’s license before showing products.
Be open and honest with your customers and let them know that due to heightened security risks you are obligated to check everyone’s ID’s as an additional security measure. If a crime is committed, you now have their information.

6. Review security/alarm system to make sure its functioning correctly.
Whether in the store or away from the store, it’s important to keep an eye on surveillance footage.

7. Take time to re-train employees.
Meet with your employees for any training needed before re-opening, and make sure they feel comfortable returning. Remind them to remain vigilant while greeting customers and showing them items.

8. Make sure your staff is healthy before returning.
Stay on top of health requirements from the CDC. For now, at the very least, we recommend checking in with employees before returning to work—making sure they know to stay home if they are ill. Temperature tests are also an option for employees.

9. Ensure more than one employee is in the store when re-opening.
Open your business with two or more people on the premises. This is especially important during the transition period after a lengthy closure.

One employee should open while another observes the opening. When opening, the employee unlocking the store should immediately lock the door after entering. Then, this individual should conduct a full walk-through of the premises, looking for anything suspicious.

The other employee should watch from a safe distance, ready to call police if the need arises. Only after receiving an “all-clear” notification from the first employee, the second employee may enter—again locking the door behind him/her—and assist with opening safes and/or vaults, setting up display cases, and preparing for the day’s business.

Check out JM University® for courses related to this topic.

10. Have enough staff on hand; only allow a few customers in at a time.
Business may be slow to start, but gradually customers will feel more comfortable leaving home and supporting their local jewelers. Prepare your store for anticipated traffic and take precautions on the number of customers to allow in at a time, for everyone’s safety.

Looking for additional resources or updates on information related to COVID-19? Check out our dedicated business page or sign up to receive email updates.