Giddy Goat Toys Come Back to Life
A lot of non-essential shops have gone back into operation this week. Local shops welcomed old customers through their doors and into the ‘new normal’ that will be our only normal for some time from now. And with even adults straggling to adapt to masks, distancing, and looking but not touching, we at M&D Magazine have been wondering how the very young customers are being looked after by the retail industry. We checked in with Amanda Alexander, the owner, manager and magician-in-chief of the treasure trove of Didsbury – Giddy Goat Toy Shop.
“We’ll be limiting shoppers to three customers or two family groups at a time to maintain social distancing whilst in the shop.
I’ve decided to leave the two play tables so children have an area to play on rather than wandering round touching lots of things and we’ll disinfect the toys that are on there regularly, but we have got rid of the Kinetic Sand display. Because we’re limiting shoppers, there won’t be a one way system so you can browse around, however I would encourage shoppers to use our website to get an idea of what they want or to buy online then quickly click and collect.
Whilst closed I’ve had a right good tidy, got a new fancy till system and added lots more products to the website to make pre-browsing or click and collect a viable alternative to walking round the shop.
As we do have a fair amount of elderly customers who might not be as confident online and who are more vulnerable to Covid I feel we all need to be mindful of their needs and so would ask customers to consider doing click and collect where they can and to not just bring children in for a play and to keep an eye on children at all times to ensure they are not picking up and playing with the stock.
Thank you to everyone who has ordered online from us during lockdown, I’ve done a fair few deliveries around Didsbury and done a few doorstep handovers from the shop doorway. Once we re-open I’ll be back on the tram and not able to deliver but of course collection from the shop or delivery by courier will be an option.”
Amanda xxx
