With non-essential retailers set to open their doors to socially-distant shoppers from 15 June, popular destinations are working hard to adjust for what far too many people are calling the new normal. In London’s Covent Garden, a deep clean is in process and high end retailers have “optimised” their stores in line with government guidelines, including marked queuing systems, social distancing signage and bountiful supplies of hand sanitiser, as well as “digitally enhanced shopping”. Mulberry will offer both one-on-one and virtual store appointments, Tiffany & Co is laying on a dedicated concierge service and virtual styling sessions, while Charlotte Tilbury will be running a click/call-and-collect service and looking to host their “infamous masterclasses” over Zoom in the upcoming weeks. In addition, a one-way system has been introduced in the iconic Market Building, which might actually be an improvement worth keeping beyond the crisis. Meanwhile, down in Brighton, new meaning is being given to the usually bustling Lanes – property manager SHW has been in touch to show that the maze of streets around Brighton Square has been painted with road-style markings, including arrows to show the suggested direction of travel. Anyone planning any long-awaited retail therapy on Monday best be ready for some changes – will shopping ever be the same again?
Lockdown Gold
Anybody who knows Nick Walkley will know of his eclectic music taste and candid Twitter account (@HomesNickW, if you were wondering). Lockdown has brought the two together, via Tim Burgess (social media-savvy lead singer of The Charlatans) and a real estate sub group, which also counts EG’s editor-in-chief Damian Wild among its esteemed members. They’ve been playing albums simultaneously and chatting on Twitter as part of Burgess’ online “listening party”. So, what has the chief executive of Homes England been dancing around his kitchen to this week? Diary’s younger cousin, Lockdown Diary (and the playlist for #TimsTwitterListeningParty) can confirm that, on Wednesday at 8pm, prior to his turn to cook dinner, it was Electrelane’s The Power Out. Walkley seems to have been burned by playlists earlier in the week however, signing off his Lockdown Diary (see p18) with the warning: “I’m not saying their choices have any influence on public policy, but the Spandau Ballet fans need to think carefully about their HBF funding applications.”
Shut the front door
The experts at Sellhousefast.co.uk have been in touch with new information on how to sell your house faster: paint the front door. Apparently, the hue of your main access can affect the price of your property more than you might think – and, committed as ever to researching all facets of the residential market, they “looked into the psychology behind different door colours”. Looking to add the most value? Blue is the colour, contributing an average of £4,000 to a property. The worst is not surprising – a lick of brown paint will take £700 off your home. Meanwhile, fans of Shakin’ Stevens look away now: a green door trails in second last, adding a mere £500. As for the whole psychology aspect, a red front door conveys a “vibrant, passionate personality inside”, black “can be mysterious but also stylish and sophisticated”, green represents growth, and those oh-so-desirable blue doors promote feelings of serenity and freedom. Meanwhile, brown doors are “strong and stable” – qualities that seemingly do as much for your house price as they did for Theresa May.
Remote results
Tired of Teams? Zoomed out? Spare a thought for the public company bosses trying to figure out how to make results day work remotely. For his 16th full-year results announcement at Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust, Duncan Owen found himself, for once, unable to read the room. “I thought ‘this is no problem, we’ve been presenting for a couple of years to investors on the other side of the world over video conferencing’,” said the Schroders real estate head, who chatted with analysts over the BrightTALK webinar software. “But it did feel strange. You’re more constrained. We had 77 analysts and shareholders on the line and you don’t know what they’re saying, you don’t know what they’re thinking. You get two or three electronic questions as opposed to 12 hands going up.” Owen was just in the middle of telling EG how much he’s looking forward to getting the process back to normal next year, but then accidentally put himself on mute before disconnecting the call (not really).
