One Newmains florist is happy to be reopening but thinks some customers will change their shopping habits in the wake of the pandemic.
Pixie’s Petals closed its doors in March along with thousands of businesses across Scotland as lockdown began.
But after four long months the shop opened its doors this week albeit with social distancing rules in place.
Yvonne Brodie runs Pixie’s Petals alongside mum Catherine Allen.
She said: “We have been making preparations for opening. We have been going in to make sure there is enough social distancing.
“It’s going to take a bit of work but I’m sure we will get there.
“Our family also run the Damside Inn in Allanton so while lockdown has been going on we have been working out of there because there is more space and doing home deliveries.
“But it will be good to see our customers again.”
The two-metre social distancing rule is providing problems for some businesses.
Indeed Prof Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, said there is “every reason” Scotland should also reduce the social distancing rule to protect businesses.
He added: “If we do see a localised outbreak of Covid, for example if there is an outbreak linked to a particularly busy pub, we can step in and close it down again.
“The whole country does not need to go back into lockdown.
“It is much easier to go into lockdown than it is to come out of it, as we are seeing now.”
Yvonne is unsure whether people will change their shopping habits in the wake of the pandemic even if social distancing rules are relaxed.
Yvonne added: “I think some customers will just be happy to come back in and get out of the house.
“But I’m sure others will be more cautious and we will be doing more home deliveries.
“I know when I have been going out I’ve been watching what I’m doing.
“Hopefully over time it will get better but we will just have to wait and see.”
