'Mother of all sales' predicted for Devon and Cornwall's shops as they reopen

According to experts, there could be the 'mother of all sales' for the next few months

Retail experts have said it is likely that most retail stores will slash their prices upon reopening in June, in an attempt to encourage customers back in to their stores.

Since the start of lockdown, many stores have been unable to trade, although some of the bigger retailers have had online shopping options.

Major chains such as Marks and Spencer and Primark, which have branches across Devon and Cornwall, with some of the region's biggest stores in Plymouth, Exeter, and Truro, have masses of stock which has gone unsold since the start of lockdown, reports The Mirror Online.

Although shopping in stores from June 15 onward is likely to be an altogether different experience due to necessary safety and hygiene measures being implemented, shopping chains with stores around Devon and Cornwall are set to significantly lower their prices to get stock off the shelves, and entice customers back to stores.

Clive Black, head analyst at Shore Capital said: “There will be the mother of all sales for the next few months.

"It will be a real boom for bargain hunters.”

But he added: “The shopping landscape will be completely different to the sales frenzy we have got used to.”

Measures such as limiting the size of queues and the number of people in shops at any one time, fewer tills, no changing rooms, one-way systems, and enhanced PPE, cleaning and personal hygiene are likely to be put in place in those stores that will reopen.

Chains that have announced sales so far:

Marks and Spencer

Marks & Spencer, which has many branches scattered across Devon and Cornwall, is amongst those chains to launch a sale upon reopening some of its stores.

Although it has not been outlined which M&S stores will reopen, or when they will, the chain has announced it will launch its half-price Rainbow Sale, which has already started online.

It is bringing in measures to ensure safe shopping when it fully opens 260 stores and 30 outlets.

“It will be a different experience and more likely to one where shoppers have come to buy specific items rather than for a leisurely browse,” a spokesman said.

The High Street retailer announced in April that it expects its clothing and home arm to be “severely constrained” during the COVID-19 lockdown and remain under pressure due to an expected phased lifting of social distancing restrictions.

It added that trading in its food business has also been knocked by the closure of cafes and wider lockdown affecting travel and city centre sites.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's announced today that it has launched a 70 per cent off sale on clothing with prices starting at £1.

Clothing and shoes are included in the major mark down according to money-saving website HotUkDeals.

The site says that 40 lines of clothing which had already been reduced will now be slashed again to just £1.

In womenswear there will be a mixture of items for half price and up to 70% off, reports LiverpoolEcho.

While Sainsbury's stores have remained open during the coronavirus pandemic with a selection of its TU clothing range available at its stores, social distancing and safety measures are still in place which means queues may be likely.

New rules for clothing sales released by the Government this week advise closing changing rooms and taking stock that has been touched or tried on off sale for up to 72 hours.

While there hasn't been any official announcements from other retailers about planned sales, retail experts believe all the major High Street clothes stores will be slashing prices by up to 70 per cent when they reopen.