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Retail Businesses Should Not Be Taking Risks During The Current Lockdown

Don't take the risk

Due to the current climate, many businesses are having to adapt in order to survive, but some business owners are not putting the correct procedures in place to help protect their livelihoods. The Retail Mutual is launching its ‘Don’t Take the Risk’ campaign to encourage high-street businesses to identify and manage the potential risks that could occur on their premises. The team has created a free in-depth risk-assessment guide that not only highlights common risks that independent businesses can face but also provides helpful solutions to help reduce those risks. 

‘It was an accident waiting to happen’

With many retail businesses facing financial strain and, in some cases, temporary closure because they are deemed to be non-essential, many are at risk of closing altogether.  Consequently, business owners are trying to find ways to reduce their overheads. One particular way is not to renew their business cover or reduce their cover limits, thereby running the risk of not having the correct protection in place. However, if an accident were to happen, then they could find themselves financially worse off. 

Kirsty Hampton, Mutual Manager for The Retail Mutual says, “Many of our Members are struggling and are having to find new, innovative ways to adapt their businesses, but some are also failing to carry out thorough risk assessments beyond risks associated with Covid-19. The last thing these businesses need is an additional incident happening due to neglected and unidentified risks, adding to the financial strain they are already facing as a result of this pandemic.”

The Retail Mutual has paid a number of business interruption claims from its Members and receives more each day. This has certainly eased the financial pressure after non–essential businesses were forced to close during the first lockdown. 

Accidents still can happen (and do!)

Non-essential business has had a particularly tough time, having to close their doors and cease trading directly to the public, some believe that because they are no longer open, they don’t need to renew their cover. But with cold winter weather and vacant properties come other risks, and The Retail Mutual continues to receive a wide range of claims for incidents such as burst pipes, fires and break-ins, which have occurred whilst premises were unoccupied. The Retail Mutual wants to remind these businesses that accidents still can and do happen. 

Don’t take the risk! To download a free risk-assessment guide, just head over to The Retail Mutual’s website and select the right risk assessment template for your hair salon, barbershop, catering business or retail store.

Credit: Rob Gibbs, Marketing Manager at The Retail Mutual.

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