Home : Newsletter : Mica Shops and Covid19

Article : Mica Shops and Covid19

Date: Friday 12th June, 2020

Mica Retailers and Covid19

As a co-operative, our membership has asked us to make clear the following to any concerned customers as Mica is a unique organisation and we want all our retailers customers to be comfortable shopping with us:

• As Hardware retailers, Mica stores have been on the ’essential shops’ list, however all have had to adapt to the pandemic we are living through.
  
  
• As independent stores, each local Mica retailer has and will continue to take their own decisions in the best interests of their staff, customers and local community. Mica does not have any input on opening times for example.
  
  
• Despite being on the essential shops list, most retailers did or have had to make changes to the services they provide / hours they operate due to the size of the store, staff available or simply decided to shut for a period when the virus was at peak transmission to protect their local community.

Having clarified this, Mica would like to note the extraordinary efforts many of its retailers have gone to during the pandemic.

Challenges of the Unexpected

Many stores who were able to move to a delivery service, others have offered pre payment click and collect, almost all on reduced staffing and without the business being orientated to achieve it. All shops have adapted as they see best fit to protect their customers and provide continuation of service if possible.

In addition, the response from local communities has been overwhelmingly fantastic. Feedback for those who were unable to get products elsewhere, or rediscovering their local hardware store has given many Mica retailers and staff a warm uplifting feeling at this otherwise very difficult time. For example this from Alison on Facebook of one Mica store on 8th April:

Fantastic independent DIY / hardware store that has incredibly helpful and knowledgeable staff who can even locate *that* item you desperately need but don’t know the name of!! Great range of products and competitive prices too.

Going Forward

Now as Mica shops are gradually reopening (*update for June - moving to more regular hours), establishing new normals on a case by case basis, we ask you as their customers to continue to use the local shops who have done their bit, however that may be (through closure to prevent spread, through delivery service or by staying open where able).

We also also that you follow the social distancing rules put in place by your local store, generally these will be similar to those in other shops and those set out by the government i.e. keep 2m apart from other customers & staff, if there is a limit of numbers allowed in store only enter when invited in and don’t shop if you have any of the covid symptoms.

If you have any queries about shopping at your local store please contact them directly before contacting Mica head office, as they will be able to provide you with the most accurate up to date information.

Thank you again for your custom, and on behalf of every Mica retailer;
Stay safe, and shop local!

For contact details of your local store, please enter their postcode in the storefinder on the homepage of this site.

(Updated 12th June)

« Return To Index

Become a Mica retailer