Bealls customers and associates making the adjustment to shopping during the pandemic
During the more than one month that Bealls stores were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, store manager Johanna Reilly focused on online sales, and staying in touch with her staff who were sidelined at home.
Top online sellers? Shirts, but not pants, and buffs — sort of a bandana or wrap that anglers often wear as protection against the weather.
With a shortage of face masks, buffs were a popular clothing item for online shoppers.
Monday, Bealls stores reopened across the country. Reilly, manager of the 80,000-square-foot Fountain Court store, 6837 Manatee Ave. W., seemed happy Friday that customers were back, and that they, and store associates alike, had settled into the new no-touch, social distancing, mask-wearing reality.
Bealls is using every other cash register at its checkout line to encourage distancing.
All Bealls associates were wearing masks and gloves, and many of the shoppers were wearing masks as well.
Among shoppers at her store on Friday was Nancy Tanner of Lakeland, who was looking for beach covers and sandals.
“It’s Florida,” Tanner said, when asked why she shops at Bealls.
Bealls president Dan Alves was in the store Friday, and smiled behind his mask at Tanner’s unsolicited endorsement.
Bradenton-based Bealls, with two local distribution centers and maybe a dozen Manatee County stores, is Manatee County’s largest employer, and is known for its casual, Florida fashions and home accessories.
Not all of Bealls 2,000-plus employees have returned to work. The stores are on reduced hours this week, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., and next week, stay open a little longer, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prior to the pandemic, Bealls stores were open 9 a.m. 9 - p.m.
The big distribution centers are just now beginning to reopen, Alves said.
Reilly said all of her associates returned to work this week, except one who is going to law school.
“Our focus is on the health and safety of our associates and our guests. Our associates are feeling safe and comfortable coming back to work,” Alves said. “We have seen nothing but positive response and positive feedback from our guests.”
With the exception of stores in a few metro areas, all of the 500 stores the company operates have reopened, Alves said.
Betty Ebert and Tim McCarthy were among those shopping at Reilly’s store on Friday.
“I want you to look at this shirt,” McCarthy said, pointing to the blue-and- white Legends shirt he was wearing, when asked why he shops at Bealls. “It’s priced right, too.”
The couple were looking for clothes for her, and Sketchers shoes for him.
“It’s been fantastic, our guests have been so excited to come back in the stores. They have been waiting at home for us to reopen,” Reilly said.
“We are like a second family to them. It’s been really nice to see our favorites in here who shop day in, and day out. And our associates, they truly are a family,” Reilly said.
