Sephora lays out guidelines for reopening select locations
As several cities across the nation begin to open, Sephora is sharing measures it will be taking to help protect both shoppers and employees.
The Sephora Health & Hygiene Guidelines, which include 48 safety procedures and employee training, will take into effect when select stores begin to reopen on May 22.
“While the retail environment will feel different and many factors will remain out of our hands, we’ve learned to embrace what we can control. We are taking an intentionally measured and phased approach to reopening, putting the priority on the health and safety of our communities,” Jean-André Rougeot, president and CEO of Sephora Americas said. “As we gradually reopen our stores over the next few months, we have taken great care in how we welcome back our employees and our clients. We are grateful for our clients’ support the past two months, and we want to safeguard the experience for those who want to return to stores. We will follow guidance from the CDC, government and health authorities in tandem with extensive supplemental safety measures, to formalize our new Sephora Health & Hygiene Guidelines, that safeguard the instore shopping experience.”
Created to ensure the safest store experience possible, procedures that will be implemented include:
- Social distancing and capacity, which means that stores will adhere to social distancing guidelines, and in doing so will have restricted store capacity. Clients will be greeted by a line coordinator who will ensure adequate space and service levels, and six-foot markers will be placed at lines in front of the registers and store entrances. Aisles also will be designated for traffic in one direction;
- Deep cleaning and enhanced hygiene measures, which ensures that all stores will receive a deep cleaning before reopening, and be equipped with hygiene supplies and hand sanitizer throughout the space;
- Testers and services, which will see testers being for display only and in-store services to be suspended until further notice. In addition to the Beauty Advisor assistance, a suite of virtual tools will be available to aid in the product selection process;
- Face masks will be required to be worn by employees, and disposable masks for clients will be provided for clients who do not have one and visit the store. In some locations, face coverings will be mandated for store entry;
- Temperature checks, which will be conducted for employees at the beginning and middle of each shift;
- Returns, which have been extended, will be accepted with a receipt for purchases made just prior to and during the shutdown for 30 days after store reopening. Products returned will be destroyed until further notice to protect employees and clients;
- Point of sale, which will see every other register in-store be closed in an effort to promote social distancing and encourage clients to use contactless payment options. All payment screens will be sanitized before and after every transaction, baskets and bags also will be sanitized, and plexiglass screens will be implemented in all stores; and
- Staff hygiene training, which will include a Hygiene Leader at all stores, who will oversee all of the guidelines at all points of shopping experience.
In addition, Sephora initiated and implemented the Project Care Package, which saw the donation of more than 350,000 beauty products to more than 56,000 health care workers and those impacted by domestic violence in communities across the nation.
A 10% discount on in-store purchases will be available for healthcare workers and emergency first responders with a current ID valid through 2020, and beginning in June, washable cloth face masks will be available for purchase for $10, with 50% of the proceeds benefitting Stronger Together Funds through Tides.
Select stores reopening on May 22 will be in Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Georgia, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona and Alabama.
Prior to moving ahead with any future store reopenings, Sephora will evaluate each store based on local government and health guidance before making a final decision, the company said.
“I am proud of our store teams as they have readied themselves through extensive training and new protocols under the Sephora Health & Hygiene Guidelines to help clients feel both safe and supported,” Rougeot said. “Our people have championed our business, showed immense support for each other and our clients, and most importantly displayed true strength during these last nine weeks. Although many things in retail have changed, some things remain the same — our passion for the joy of beauty, our desire to welcome all, and our focus on the client.”