WeLoveLocal

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2020 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 6 SHOP LOCAL By Katherine Malmo Special to We Love Local You need to pick up a few new things, right? Your yoga pants are worn through, you ran out of eyeliner weeks ago (but does it matter?), and your son put toothpaste in your expen- sive shampoo as a hilarious prank (that was not funny at all). Furthermore, you’ve done all of your puzzles twice and you need a new one. Is it possible to have a puzzle emergency? But there’s some good news. You can get your to-do list taken care of and support your favorite local businesses with online ordering or in-person shopping that follows strict safety guidelines. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Safety measures are abundant It seems like changes are occurring almost daily, so be sure to check with stores, online or by phone, about their hours and precautions. Phase 2 opening comes with quite a few safety requirements for businesses, but if you are concerned, contacting the store to find out what measures they are taking may help you feel more comfortable. Many shops are open but limited to about 30% of their fire-code occu- pancy. They also must place 6-foot distance markers Local stores welcome in customers with care COURTESY OF MARKET STREET SHOES Employees at Market Street Shoes show off their masks at their Ballard shop. Masks are required inside all Washington state businesses. at checkout lines and fre- quently clean and sanitize high-touch areas. And any clothes that are tried on must be removed from inventory for 24 hours. Some businesses have come up with their own creative ways to meet these requirements and slow the spread of the virus. Greg Urban, the presi- dent and CEO of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, shares an example of the ways stores are helping to keep customers and staff safe. “At one shop,”Urban says, “they give each customer a basket and tell them to put in anything they touch or want to buy. Then the things they touched but didn’t buy are sanitized before being reshelved.” Linda Jones, the president and CEO of the Lynwood Chamber of Commerce, says several stores have set up clear plastic dividers to provide additional separa- tion between customers and staff. Masks are required Masks reduce the spread of the virus, and now wearing them is the law. So find one that you like and keep it near your keys. If you forget, some shops will provide them, but that puts a financial strain on already-strapped businesses. Urban says that one coffee shop owner handed out masks to every person who didn’t have one the first day they reopened. “She gave out 100 masks that day,” Urban says. “But when she tried to buy more, she had to pay 50 cents to $1 per mask. Paying $1 for each person who bought a $3 latte just wasn’t going to work.” Consider where you spend your money Consider supporting local businesses to support the local economy — and because it may be the safer option. Some chain stores that sell groceries have been operating throughout the stay-at-home order, often with changing guidelines, and with a large clientele. “But small businesses may Continued on next page