A lot has changed in the past few months. Businesses are constantly opening and closing, and each one has to consider what measures must be taken to open effectively and safely. This can mean expanding your outdoor seating or simply offering disinfectants and other cleaning materials, but each business, no matter the field, has to take steps to ensure the safety of their customers and their employees, as well as the safety of the business itself. The happier and safer your customers feel, the better your business will fair while opening up once again.

For the most up to date re-opening requirements and restrictions for your business, please visit your state's website. Additionally, here are some PPE, signs, and safety supplies to consider implementing when re-opening your business.

Appropriate Signage For Your Space

Information will be your best friend in this time of confusion, and the more you make available for your customers, the better off you will be in the long run. This applies to the majority of businesses as well, from salons to restaurants and bars to gyms, to golf courses; each will need the appropriate signage to limit liability and keep both customers and employees safe and informed.

Important signage for re-opening is a sign that reminds customers that you are, indeed, open. With all the confusion, it can be easy for customers to miss the re-opening dates, and given the fluid nature of the situation at large, re-closing is a real concern. Making sure that your customers know that your location is open is paramount; this can be easily handled by putting the necessary signs in your entrance or even out in front of your business to catch the eye of interested passersby.

Salons in many states, for example, require the customers and employees both to wear masks. To limit confusion and protect your employees, signage that states the requirement for face masks is an important new addition to the storefront. Any business that seeks to protect its employees or reinforce protection can easily advertise their face mask requirement at the entrance and even again at the counter.

Other safety precautions can be easily handled by spreading informative signage. If your restaurant is open at a limited capacity, a sign broadcasting the social distancing requirements can help keep everyone in your establishment healthy. To reinforce social distancing, lining your check-out with floor decals that notify customers of how far apart to stand can be a big help as well. Now is also the perfect time to double down on handwashing signs, as they are highly recommended to be posted in most businesses' bathrooms and required in others. The signage serves as a reminder to both employees and customers, and it is important to keep your re-opening smooth and efficient.

However, just as important as stocking up on signage is how easily it can be cleaned and disinfected. Signs are placed in visible high traffic locations; the more popular the area, the dirtier the sign can get. The CDC encourages a regular cleaning and disinfecting schedule, and you should include your signage in that schedule. Therefore, it's important that your signs are constructed out of easily disinfected material. Look into easily customizable signage to add brand consistency, and make sure the signage is made of a material that can be easily cleaned, like these. This will apply to menus as well, to ensure that each table and customer stays sanitary. Washable menus are important in situations like this, allowing you to wipe the menu as you wipe the tables down as well. 

Protective Gear

While you are developing your disinfection routine, it's important to know what the best practices of your equipment are. The CDC has written out the proper steps to be taken while cleaning your facility, and part of that process should be proper protection. They strongly encourage wearing disposable gloves no matter the disinfectant, and in some cases, PPE face shields are also recommended to protect your employees from the necessary chemicals. 

Disinfecting isn't the only time you should be wearing PPE face shields; any profession that requires close-quarters contact will be needing the face shields in order to protect employees and customers from bodily fluids that can be passed through close proximity. This includes many medical professions, like veterinarians, dentists, orthodontists, first responders, and doctors. Should you feel that PPE face shields are good for your business, the more protection, the better. 

If your business centers around counter communication, you should look into sneeze guards. The sneeze guard is built to protect employees and customers by putting a plastic shield between them, preventing pathogens that may spread during an interaction. From gas stations to pharmacies, the sneeze guard will add extra protection to important interactions and increase your employees' and customers' safety. 

No matter what, safety is the main concern in this time of re-openings. It's worth considering every possibility when it comes to the health of your employees and customers, and the safer both feel, the better your business will perform. If you have any questions about customizability or anything else, the team at Plastic Printers has plenty of answers for your re-opening needs.