ShopLive gives customers an in-store experience from their own homes via video link with Currys PC World experts
Plans outlined for safe shopping once the government eases store closure restrictions
New ways of shopping in and outside stores including zero contact Drive Thru will allow customers to pick up orders and shop safely
Social distancing, increased cleaning and a range of protective measures already in Nordics stores to be replicated in UK and Ireland to protect colleagues and customers
Currys PC World has launched a personal shopping service to connect customers with its store colleagues via video link.
The ShopLive service provides customers with expert advice to help them get the products they need during the COVID-19 crisis safely from the comfort of their own homes.
The retailer, which is part of the Dixons Carphone group, has also unveiled a blueprint for safe shopping once the government’s store closure restrictions ease, including trading from parts of stores and zero contact Drive Thrus.
Customers browsing online at currys.co.uk will be invited to chat to store colleagues around the country from their homes via a popup ShopLive video link on selected webpages. The service is currently providing advice on laptops, TVs, washing machines and refrigeration products and means everyone, including the most vulnerable, can benefit from store colleagues’ expertise remotely.
The dedicated shopping experience will be offered from within stores once the government eases restrictions on shop closures and then will enable live demonstrations across the whole range of Currys PC World products. Expert colleagues will be able to answer questions and demonstrate products without the customer having to leave their home.
For customers for whom it is more convenient to shop and pick-up products from a physical store, a range of Currys PC World stores will be adapted for safe shopping as part of a phased re-opening once restrictions are lifted.
A front-of-store trading concept will allow customers access to a part of Currys PC World stores. Here they will be able to interact with colleagues from behind screens while observing government-recommended social distancing. Currys PC World experts will be on-hand, at a safe distance, for any questions or to fetch products for customers.
Currys PC World is also planning to roll out a zero contact Drive Thru model, so that customers can shop without entering stores. The initiative will allow customers to drive to stores with dedicated parking and pay for and pick up the products they want to buy without having to leave their car.
Once stores fully reopen, Currys PC World will ensure a safe shopping experience for colleagues and customers. The retailer has worked closely on these measures with the British Retail Consortium and Environmental Health Officers and built on learnings from its Nordics stores where shops remain open and trading safely.
All Currys PC World stores will be subject to increased and more regular cleaning, as well as being equipped with extra protective equipment for colleagues. Safety measures, such as reducing the number of customers allowed in store at one time, and clear floor-markings to keep customers at least 2m away from one another will also be in place across all physical stores. Safety screens will be introduced at points such as tills where customers would likely be nearest to our in-store experts.
Dixons Carphone Chief Operating Officer, Mark Allsop, said: “Our vison is to help everyone enjoy amazing technology, and the entire business has been focused on what we can do to help customers both now and when the government announces it’s safe for us to open our stores again. We want to provide the best service for all our customers, whether they are unable to visit us and are among the most vulnerable, want the convenience of a live shopping experience at home, or want to visit our stores safely.
“We recognise it won’t be business as usual and that’s why we’re working hard to find new ways for customers to shop with us such as ShopLive and our zero contact Drive Thru experience.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, customer and colleague safety has been our biggest priority, and I’m proud of our teams for developing a blueprint for keeping customers and colleagues safe.”
-ENDS -
Notes to editors
ShopLive debuted on 21 April. When the government announces it is safe to reopen stores, the rollout will continue with experts ready to offer the full in-store experience. For more information on how it works visit this page
Currys PC World’s technology partner for ShopLive is Go InStore
Dixons Carphone, the company behind Currys PC World, is following government advice and consulting with a range of organisations concerning the safety of colleagues and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About Dixons Carphone
Dixons Carphone is a leading multichannel retailer of technology products and services, operating in 950 stores and 16 websites in eight countries. We Help Everyone Enjoy Amazing Technology, however they choose to shop with us.
We are the market leader in the UK & Ireland, throughout the Nordics and in Greece, employing 39,000 capable and committed colleagues. Our full range of services and support makes it easy for our customers to discover, choose, afford and enjoy the right technology for them, throughout their lives. The Group’s core operations are supported by an extensive distribution network, enabling delivery to stores and homes, a sourcing office in Hong Kong and a state-of-the-art repair facility in Newark, UK.
Our brands include Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse in the UK & Ireland and iD Mobile in the UK; Elkjøp, Elgiganten and Gigantti in the Nordics; and Kotsovolos in Greece. Our Dixons Travel brand has a presence across several UK airports as well as in Dublin and Oslo, and our services are provided through Team Knowhow.
Dixons Carphone Corporate Press Office
+44 (0) 7833 360 024
CorporatePR@dixonscarphone.com
For more information about Dixons Carphone plc, and to sign up to media alerts, please visit: dixonscarphone.com Follow us on twitter: @dixonscarphone
