Pandemic-Added Store Operations that Are Here to Stay

Asked what aspects of store operations that began during the pandemic but appear to be sticking around, clothing boutique owners and staff cited a variety of customer-oriented changes.

At Tumbleweed in Portland, Ore., Manager Sonja Geisler said, “I think what’s here to stay is getting to personally know our customers, and know what they like, so that if they don’t want to come into the store, we can find things they would like to purchase for them. We offer delivery and pick-up, and if we are working with established customers, we sometimes let them keep a few items on approval, and if they don’t like something once they’ve tried it on, we will pick it up as a return. We are definitely keeping all of those service areas in place; they have worked very well for us.”

In Seal Beach, Calif., Shara Sales Associate Joselyn Escobar, speaking for owner Meghan Boyce, said things have not changed all that much in terms of store operations during the pandemic. “We don’t offer pick up, for example. But people are required to wear masks even if they are vaccinated, and that is something we will keep doing for a while, anyway.”

Located in Los Angeles, Treehaus Co-Owner Michelle Pedersen said, “We do a lot more in-store pick-up that we used to do, and that will continue. It’s not like we didn’t offer that service before, but we weren’t making a point of telling people about it. We also do more email outreach for online sales as well, and that will also certainly continue.”

In Long Beach, Calif., at Prism Boutique, Owner Dayna Mance reported, “We opened more doors to let more airflow in during the height of COVID-19. We love the fresh air so much that we will continue doing this. We will also continue with extra cleaning and asking customers to sanitize their hands upon entry to the boutique.”

And at the 1,800-square-foot Mary Rose Boutique in Oregon City, Ore., Owner Julie Allen has a sanitizing technique she plans to feature long-term at her store. “We steam all clothes after they are tried on. This is an operation we are planning on continuing.” ❖