In Paphos, on their initiatives, a number of businesses have purchased steamers and are trying to meet the standards of dry cleaners so that with high temperatures through steam, germs can be eliminated, said Kyriakos Kyriakou, chairman of the Friends of Old Paphos association.

He said before customer tries on clothing, this is cleaned with a steam and the process is repeated after the garment has been tried on.
The steamer is handheld and the garments remain dry. It uses water and special tablets.

The aim, said Kyriakou, is to secure the highest possible standard of hygiene, especially at this time of the coronavirus pandemic. Customers and shop owners get to feel safe. He added that guidelines have not been provided by epidemiologists as to how the virus reacts on clothing, etc. We would like to know how the virus reacts to cotton, synthetic and polyester, he added.

The steamer initiative was first adopted in Greece and other European countries. We are implementing stricter measures than what the state requires to help people feel more relaxed when they visit shops.

 Shop owners, he added, have taken protective measures. They keep distance and lines. What matters is safety. No customer will visit retail stores if they don’t feel safe, Kyriakou said.

Source: CNA

The post Shop owners in Paphos are equipped with steamers in the fight against COVID-19 appeared first on LoveCyprus | We Love Cyprus and you will Love it too..

Following the detection of people having contracted COVID-19 in retail premises of the food supply chain and the reluctance of a number of them to take part in the government programme of 20,000 laboratory tests using the excuse of a possible impact this could have to the company they work for, the Ministry of Health announced in a press release that during its meeting on Wednesday the Cabinet made a number of decisions for reasons of public health.

In particular, all employees of retail companies trading in food and beverages, such as bakeries, supermarkets, kiosks, butchers, fish markets etc who are part of the supply chain of those businesses, that is to say they take part in food or beverages preparation or delivery, or work in customer service, “are obligated to be tested for the coronavirus within the next 14 days.”

Testing will also be mandatory within the next 14 days for people working in homes for the elderly and generally in premises offering accommodation and care for elderly people.

All the professionals this decision affects may be tested for free at the laboratories which are cooperating with the Ministry of Health, the press relase reads, adding that a relevant list has been published for this purpose in the conext of the 20,000 tests programme in the wider public and private sector. They may also be tested privately paying the equivalent price in government approved laboratories which do the PCR test.

It is added that after the 14-day deadline the relevant agencies in cooperation with the ministry`s epidemiological monitoring unit will make inspections to ensure that all affected employees have undergone the laboratory test for COVID-19.

A decree will be issued setting a maximum to the price asked for the PCR test by the approved laboratories at €110 excluding VAT.

At the same time, the Cabinet also decided that inspections by health services for the implementation of the new directive by the Ministry providing for the mandatory removal of all staff after an employee has tested positive in retail food and beverage companies and not just of the employees in close contact with the member of staff testing positive and of an immediate sanitisation of the premises, will be enhanced. 

The premises will be able to start operations again only if the epidemiological monitoring unit`s directions have been followed, which will be issuing a relevant approval. 

It is further noted that in order to safeguard public health the unit will announce the name and address of the premises offering services to the public where a person has tested positive for the coronavirus within 24 hours of it happening.

More details will follow later with the publication of a relevant decree by the Minister of Health, the press release concludes.

Source: CNA

The post Cyprus orders mandatory tests for staff in F&B retail businesses, homes for the elderly appeared first on LoveCyprus | We Love Cyprus and you will Love it too..

The outstanding traffic as well as the levels of satisfaction and observed visitor loyalty, which are examined on a quarterly basis through surveys, are a testament that a thoughtfully planned retail destination and a customer-centric approach can yield success. Most importantly, the data available foretells a bright future ahead.

The winning parameters

As one of the rare examples of shopping malls which opened their doors with an occupancy rate of 100%, Nicosia Mall has been set for success from the start. In the 8-month period following its opening, Nicosia Mall has welcomed through its doors more than 3,7 million visitors and the data available for 2019 indicate an average monthly traffic of 407,000 visitors. The achievements of this young centre become even more evident through the data available from market surveys, which are executed on a quarterly basis with the purpose to extract information on the visitor profile, attitudes, preferences and on important indicators pertaining to the performance of the mall.

Nicosia Mall, at large, attracts consumers with an exclusive purpose of visit, who have chosen it for its location, its selection of shops and for its supermarket. Equally important is that, for the great majority, Nicosia Mall represents their main shopping destination, which is a notable feat for a young centre.

The observations validate the strategy of the Mall’s management – a strategy that revolves around an optimised retail mix and an unwavering focus on the customer. Through meticulous planning, Nicosia Mall has created a product that is comprised by a masterfully blended brand mix that delivers positive synergies and maximizes visitor satisfaction. The outcome is one that includes the largest variety of international and local brands under one roof and rightfully claims its place as the strongest retail hub in terms of both the quantity and quality of retailers.

The strength of the offering of the capital’s largest shopping mall, also stems from the numerous international brands which have an exclusive presence at Nicosia Mall. These popular crowd pleasers and trend-setting retailers made their debut in Cyprus, by opening at Nicosia Mall their first ever monobrand stores in the local market and brought to Cypriot consumers a shopping experience that is fresh, global and new.

The location advantage of Nicosia Mall has also become evident, as it is ranked by visitors as the number one reason that drives their decision to visit. The results reaffirm the strengths of the specific catchment area. At the same time, the analysis of the geographical profile of visitors reveals a loyal customer base from the largest urban areas of Nicosia.

Location and convenience go hand-in-hand for today’s busy consumers, and the latter is a winning attribute, which has been integrated into the customer experience with great care. Innovative services, such as the Smart Parking Management System have been implemented to eliminate the hurdles often associated with high-traffic destinations. The philosophy is for visitors to spend time only on the things they enjoy at Nicosia Mall. The wide, airy and luxurious corridors of the mall are also designed to enhance the experience and maximize comfort even on the busiest days. Also at the focus of the convenience, is the well-integrated mix of shopping with dining, coffee shops, five-star entertainment and services, alongside one of the most popular supermarkets, which builds around the concept of a one-stop destination.

Rio Premier Cinemas, which recently opened its doors within Nicosia Mall, is another testament of the centre’s attitude to offer everything in its best possible version. The state-of-the art six-screen cinema, offers an elevated cinematic experience which includes Dolby Atmos moving cinema audio, Buttkicker cinema seats and 4K laser projectors. Services such as online-booking and seat reservations have also been introduced, raising the bar altogether.

The bright future ahead

The philosophy of a collectively better experience, coupled with the location advantage and optimized retail mix, are the proven winning parameters behind the resounding success of Nicosia Mall, especially in terms of its ability to attract and maintain a pool of traffic that is comprised at large by shoppers.

The challenge for any new business, is to infiltrate into the habits of consumers and establish itself as the primary choice. In the case of Nicosia Mall, this has been achieved at a speed that is beyond expectations. The comparative data, between the first and second quarters of 2019, which indicate growth in the strong visitor loyalty and in the weekly frequency of visits, are telling signs that Nicosia Mall has captured the heart of consumers for the long run.

According to the Management of Nicosia Mall “We will continue to direct our efforts in evolving the experience we offer by responding to the needs and wants of our visitors, who are at the forefront of what we do”.

Source: Cyprusdaily

The post Nicosia Mall is winning its place as a retail landmark! appeared first on LoveCyprus | We Love Cyprus and you will Love it too..