Between automakers halting production in their factories and showrooms having to temporarily close, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in the automotive industry. Now, as auto dealers are looking to drive customers back to their showrooms, the focus is on protecting staff and the public, and the right PPE will play a major part in making customers and employees at your auto dealership feel safe. Read on to understand the new relationship between auto dealerships and health and safety.
Shaking hands to close a car dealer may be what customers are used to, but that practice no longer instills confidence. Instead, physical distancing, appropriate PPE, and proper hygiene will be what prevents your customers’ worries. By equipping your auto dealership with PPE from a trustworthy vendor, you can instill confidence in everyone who walks through your doors, from staff to potential customers.
Physical Distancing
While the ultimate in physical distancing for auto dealerships would include contactless or electronic shopping, electronic pay options, and contactless pickup or delivery of a vehicle, that isn’t reasonable for every shopper. Auto dealerships can take other steps to help with physical distancing starting with inside the showroom.
Car models can be laid out so that customers can look at different models while still maintaining physical distancing. That means at least six feet between any two customers as well as between customers and staff.
Floor decals can be used to encourage social distancing and indicate traffic flow through the showroom. Decals can be placed at entrances, exits, lobbies, and anywhere else, a visual reminder is needed. They can even be customized with your dealership design and logo.
Auto Dealerships
There may be times when strict physical distancing isn’t feasible, for example, while signing paperwork, accepting payment, or delivering goods. In these cases, it’s important for customers and employees to use appropriate PPE, including face masks.
Prominently display important safety information with health and safety signs. Signs clearly communicate expectations, including mask-wearing, to both customers and employees. For your auto dealership, you can hang these signs in entrances and throughout your showroom. Signs can also be used to communicate lower occupancy limits, encourage hand washing, or share other measures your business is taking to keep customers and employees safe.
Of course, there will be times when it isn’t feasible to maintain physical distancing. In these instances, in addition to wearing masks, partitions can help provide a layer of protection between customers and employees. Use these sneeze guards to separate customers from finance managers, receptionists, cashiers, and any other areas where close-up interactions are required. Your Safeguard advisor can provide you with a variety of sizes and configurations to meet your needs, and sneeze guards can even be printed with your logo.
Unique to auto dealerships, and another time where physical distancing likely isn’t feasible is the test drive. Auto dealers can distance employees and customers as much as a vehicle allows by limiting test drives to a single customer in the driver’s seat, with the salesperson sitting in the opposite back seat. While both the customer and employee should already be wearing a face mask, gloves and face shields may also be used during test drives.
Proper Hygiene
Encourage proper hygiene habits by making hand sanitizer available throughout your auto dealership and encouraging frequent hand washing using mounted signage. Available in many shapes and sizes, including hand sanitizer stands, wall mount dispensers, and tabletop dispensers, having hand sanitizing stations throughout your dealership makes it easy to encourage proper hygiene habits.
Use antibacterial wipes to sanitize high-touch areas and other hard surfaces. Wipe down interior and exterior high touch areas after any customer, areas like handles, the steering wheel, dashboard fixtures, and any other parts of the car as needed. Disposable gloves can be made available for customers and employees as well.
In addition to wiping down vehicles, you can use antibacterial wipes to wipe down other high-touch surfaces throughout the dealership, including keys, payment portals, and door handles. Desks and chairs should also be wiped down after each customer uses them.
Safeguard even offers a variety of antimicrobial products that includes an additive that helps prevent the growth and spread of bacteria. These products are perfect for high-use items such as pens, and they can be personalized with your dealership logo.
Don’t let your auto dealership business stall. Instill confidence at your auto dealership with the right PPE to keep customers and employees feeling safe. Safeguard is your one-stop-shop for all of your auto dealership PPE essentials. For over 60 years, customers have relied on their Safeguard advisor for products, services, and advice. We have the PPE products you need in bulk, in stock, in the US, and ready to deliver. Contact your Safeguard advisor or call 855.778.3124 to get started.
Key Takeaways
- Instill confidence at your auto dealership with physical distancing, appropriate PPE, and proper hygiene.
- Equip your auto dealership with PPE from a trustworthy vendor.
- Health and safety signage, masks, hand sanitizer, and antibacterial wipes are all essential PPE for auto dealerships.
- Safeguard is your one-stop-shop for all of your auto dealership and PPE needs