Moda In Pelle reveals plans for re-opening of its shoe stores including Victoria Leeds

A Leeds based shoe brand is planning to re-open its stores with private shopping appointments as a way of addressing social distancing.
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Moda In Pella's store in the Victoria Quarter is one of the first ones that will re-open with new measures and procedures from Monday of next week.

With it being a boutique style store, the city's shoe shopping fans can book an appointment online or via customer services, for a private slot at the store.

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As well as hand sanitiser, gloves and face masks available at the doors to all customers if they wish, there will be tape on the floor and sneeze guards on tills.

Victoria Quarter in Leeds.Victoria Quarter in Leeds.
Victoria Quarter in Leeds.

The return to stores follows a successful lockdown period where Moda continued to trade online with a rise in demand and orders. It has 60 staff at the Leeds head office and 20 more at the onsite warehouse. It moved all stock to the warehouse and sales assistants were on hand to give the same advice they would in-store, but online.

The firm said the new approach was a way to maintain social distancing but also a way of enhancing customer experience.

Gianni Casagrande, Moda in Pelle's digital marketing manager, said: "The government’s announcement that non-essential shops can open from June 15 is something we’d been expecting following the reopening of some schools and nurseries, and is something we’re approaching slowly and cautiously.

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"Staff and customer safety remains the main priority, but we are keen to retain as much of a good customer experience as we possibly can. To ensure minimal numbers of people in store at any one time, we will be offering one on one private shopping slots, which customers can book online or through our customer service team.

"For us, this solution allows us to practice social distancing and keep everyone safe, but also gives a positive, tailored customer experience. Our reopening plan will focus on a few key stores initially, and we'll use this time to rest and refine our approach."

Earlier into the lockdown period, Moda donated £50,000 worth of trainers to NHS workers at hospitals across Leeds and has since been quarantining any new stock it has received.

Mr Casagrande added: "Despite the difficulties faced during this unprecedented time, we’ve found so many positives, particularly within the local community. As a business we donated £50,000 worth of trainers to a number of hospitals in Leeds, and there’s been a real sense of people pulling together. We’re looking forward to reopening as safely as possible, and to seeing our customers enjoying our stores once again."

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