News: Liverpool ONE 56 Editors Last

NEWS LIVERPOOL ONE PREPARES TO RE-OPEN ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO: BE PATIENT:

BE KIND: BE RESPONSIBLE.

Liverpool ONE is opening preparing to re-open hours from June 15th and between has reassured its visitors 10am that they remain safe and and 5pm, reassured at all times: . Monday to Due to the sheer size of the estate, its open air layout and wide shopping boulevards, the team at Liverpool ONE expect people to be able to move around freely while easily Saturday, allowing staff to avoid peak travel times. On a Sunday stores will continue to open as normal between 11am and 5pm. observing the 2-metre safe Steve Connolly, Estate distancing rule. Visitors will Director at Liverpool ONE, be advised to keep to the said: “We are looking left at all times and on the forward to welcoming our upper level of South John visitors back to Liverpool Street, with the feature ONE now the Government balconies, a one-way walkhas advised we are safe way will be in place. to do so, with the right Liverpool ONE is bringing conditions in place. “ in additional hand sanitiser “We have been working stations which will be hard behind the scenes to positioned across the ensure the right balance estate, staff will have face of measures are in place masks and gloves and the to protect everyone who toilets will be open with no visits us but also ensuring charge. it will be an enjoyable As the number of shoppers experience.” allowed in stores at any “Our message is quite clear one time is also likely to ….. Be Patient, Be Kind, be restricted, designated Be Responsible. We want queuing areas will be in people to once again enjoy place. shopping and to love the There will also be revised experience of Liverpool ONE.”

“Yes, it will be different and we are all adjusting to a new normal but I think the vast majority of people have proved during lockdown that we can do this. We can adapt.” Steve added there has been strong interest from stores across Liverpool ONE who are keen to re-open and believes now is the time for the public to once again start supporting the local economy. He continued: “Now is the time for everyone to start supporting the local economy but in a safe way. We will be working closely with all of our stores in relation to any individual measures which they will be putting in place to protect customers.” “We urge everyone who visits us to use common sense, follow the directional and helpful signage which we will have in place across the estate and once again fall in love with that experience of shopping on the high street!” Many of the restaurants across Liverpool ONE will be offering take away and click and collect services until they are expected to re-open, which may be in July, subject to Government guidance. 19

BUSINESS Lifestyle chats to.. ANDREW JOSEPH MANION How COVID-19 has effected his business

HOW HAS THE LOCK DOWN AFFECTED YOUR

BUSINESS? When the situation first started to unfold in the second week in March I took the decision to close on Saturday 21ST March, two days before the official announcement. On the 1st March we had just won England local Salon of the year 2020 at the English Hair and beauty awards and now we was closing, it was surreal and It was a hard decision at the time but felt right, thinking it may only be for a few weeks to maybe a month.

WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU MADE TO YOUR

BUSINESS? As the lock down progressed it became more and more apparent that this was not going to be a quick situation, we were now entering into week 6 and my mind was in complete turmoil. We was given the grant but I the world of business £10K really isn’t a lot of cash, it would clear any debts and keep us going until June. When the announcement was made that it would be the 4th July at the very earliest for the industry to re open I made 20 one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make in my life. To close the salon permanently. After 8 years in business and over 9 awards, with the restrictions that were to come into place and with staff numbers low due to maternity and a few other issues that were Covid_19 related it made business sense to go out on a high.

BEING OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FUTURE HOW WILL

YOUR BUSINESS EVOLVE? I am generally a very optimistic person in life although this has tested me but I still do remain optimistic about the future. In regards to the business aspect I am going to become a freelance hair and makeup artist under my full name again and focus on my own career now as opposed to the salon. Now is my time and I am looking forward to where I could be in the next 12-24 months once the world is hopefully back to normal, whatever the new normal may be.

HAS THE VIRUS MADE YOU EVALUATE YOUR AMBITIONS IN A POSITIVE

WAY? Having almost 4 months off is the longest I

have had off since my early 20’s before I moved to France and then before I had a salon. Going from running a successful salon and doing a degree, which totaled 60- 70+ hrs a week to zero in a day really does put things in perspective. It made me think do I want another 8+ years doing this? The answer was no, there is more to life than having sleepless nights over a business, in the capacity that is was anyway, this isn’t the end its just a reset to a new path for me.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOUR WILL BE DOING

AFTER THIS? Go somewhere else other than Liverpool, maybe not abroad straight away but at least drive to see friends in Cornwall and have a holiday of sorts.