Survey Reveals Impact Of Covid Restrictions On Retail

Around a quarter of shop and salon owners that completed a survey say their income fell by 50% or more last month, compared to the same month in 2019.

Around half say their turnover fell by between 20% and 50%.

Retail and close contact businesses weren't included in the latest iteration of the co-funded payroll scheme, despite calls from the Chamber of Commerce.

Local work from home recommendations are affecting retail & close contact service businesses, and we will keep pushing for them to be eligible to support through our discussions with @GovJersey on the co-funded payroll scheme. https://t.co/2aiGzfPb7K

— Jersey Chamber (@jerseychamber) January 17, 2022

118 responded to the survey about the impact of covid measures, with just over half saying mandatory masks and work from home advice drove down trade.

The government said last month that it wanted more information to understand the impact that public health measures are having on them, hence the survey being launched.

Chief Executive Murray Norton says Jersey Chamber has consistently pointed to the lower footfall in conversations with the government, particularly in January.

"The Government has said it wanted further data and this survey conclusively points to the need for these sectors to be included in the short-term Co-funding Support Scheme that was announced just before Christmas, with three-quarters of those responding seeing a drop of 20% or more.

"The Government rightly followed health advice to recommend that wherever possible employees should work from home and businesses did follow this advice.

That Government intervention clearly reduced footfall to many businesses in retail and close contact services, hampering their trading conditions at the worst of times.

Previously, the Government have supported these sectors with co-funding based on an evidenced detriment. It would seem appropriate for the same support to be in place again."

The full survey results can be read here.