B&Q reopens some stores across UK

DIY retailer B&Q has announced that some stores have now reopened.

The announcement comes as all B&Q stores were closed recently due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Stores in Wales that have since reopened are Caerphilly, Cardiff, Cardiff (Culverhouse Cross), Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, and Swansea.

Similar to shopping at supermarkets, B&Q say that they have introduced social distancing controls at their re-opened stores.

They are strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and have said that you may find you need to queue if you visit the store. Stores have introduced two metre floor markers throughout the store and also perspex screens at checkouts

At these re-opened stores, customers can purchase products that are available for takeaway in store on the day. However, services such as kitchen and bathroom design, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available for the time being. B&Q are accepting card, gift card and contact-less payments only.

As well as re-opening some stores, B&Q have also introduced a new queue system for their online store at diy.com to limit the number of customers using the website at the same time.

In some cases, customers are met with the message “Your estimated wait time is: more than an hour” due to many customers across the UK trying to access the online store at the same time.

On diy.com, B&Q are offering a reduced range of items that focuses on customers’ needs during these challenging times, and includes the following: 

• Hardware
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Central heating and boiler parts
• Building supplies
• Tools
• Security
• Light bulbs

However, they have said that they are continuing to review the products offered at diy.com to ensure that they get the balance right – keeping customers and colleagues safe while meeting customers’ needs to look after their homes and gardens, as well as their wellbeing, during this time of self-isolation and social distancing.

The DIY Retailer has also said that a limited range of plant bundles are now available to purchase on diy.com using the Click+Collect service from local stores.

A limited range of paint is available to purchase on diy.com using contact-free Click+Collect from local stores. However, Valspar paint mixing services are suspended whilst stores are closed.

For trade customers, please refer to trade-point.co.uk