UPDATED STATUS: Massage Services open. Most Covid-19 safety guidelines remain in place for Summer 2022. Online Store Open.
Posted: 21/03/2020
Updated: 11/10/2022
Covid-19 is still at large, so, as a small business, and one that is very hands-on (literally), I have and will continue to add new measures and changes to ensure the safety of you all. Nothing wrong with a bit of extra hygiene protocols after all!
On the 23rd of March 2020, the government informed all non-essential businesses to close, including businesses such as PowerKnapp. We reopened on the 13th of July 2020, but as of the 5th of November, we shut our doors once again. We reopened on the 3rd of December only to close again on the 2nd of January. We have since reopened on the 12th of April 2021 - and hopefully it will stay that way! Whilst legal restrictions surrounding Covid-19 in England have been dropped, we will continue to practice safety guidelines for the near-future.
We are trying to remain positive yet pragmatic - aspiring to continue the fight to keep aches and pains at bay, whilst taking the Covid-19 risks very seriously. So what is PowerKnapp doing to help reduce contamination in clinic? (Scroll down to see each point in further detail):
1. Reminder for clients to postpone appointments if they are ill, show symptoms or have been potentially exposed 📅
2. Encourage all clients to get vaccinated and use the 'NHS Covid-19' tracer app 🌍
3. No Cancellation Fee 👛
4. Clients encouraged to wear a mask. Vaccinated or not 😷
5. In turn, the therapist will wear a mask and apron 💆🏽♂️
6. No Handshakes🤝🏼
7. Deep Clean between Appointments ✨
8. Toilet Cleaned after every use 🚽
9. Advise clients to use the toilet at home and bring their own water bottles 🚰
10. Gaps between appointments to increase to allow for cleaning ⌚
11. Wash hands upon arrival with individual towels for hand drying ✋🏼🧼
12. Therapist to use Lateral Flow Tests 🧪
13. Alcohol Sanitiser Gel dispensers 💧
14. Towels to be washed at 60 degrees 🔥
15. No Signature on Delivery for all online orders 🖋
16. No Cash 🏧
We will be firm and if any client does not cooperate, particularly on point #1.
Implemented:
1. Reminder for clients to postpone appointments if they are ill, show symptoms or have been potentially exposed 📅
My first ‘Covid-19 Measure’ is more of a reminder - I’d like to politely emphasise that clients do not turn up to a session ill. A simple and obvious precaution but it needs to be reiterated. Coronavirus or not, if you are ill, you should look to reschedule with me to prevent any contamination or transmission to myself or other clients. Massage can wait a couple of weeks. If you do show any symptoms of coronavirus, no matter how mild, tell me before you attend. Even if you don't exhibit symptoms but have been in contact with people who have or are high risk of infection, it is also asked that you postpone.
For NHS advice and info regarding Covid-19, see here:
2. Encourage all clients to get vaccinated and use the 'NHS Covid-19' tracer app 🌍
The app works in the background on your phone and is collects information regarding other people you are in close proximity with. If one of my clients contract Covid-19, it will inform me quickly to help massively contain the situation - and it helps to keep my stress and blood pressure down a little! If you can, please get vaccinated - it goes a long way to helping the UK emerge from the pandemic.
3. No Cancellation Fee 👛
To follow with the last point, I very rarely enforce cancellation fees, but I want clients to know that all cancellations fees/penalties are suspended. If you need to cancel, please do so. Don't feel bad about cancelling and particularly, during these uncertain times, I'm definitely not going to penalise you for it! It's not worth the risk.
4. Clients encouraged to wear a mask. Vaccinated or not 😷
It was mandatory by law that businesses like mine ensure clients wear a mask/vizor/face shield at start of the session and for face-to-face massage routines. This is no longer mandatory, but I encourage you to wear one if you prefer to. Ideally, bring your own, but I will have clean/disposable masks available to use. If you're vaccinated, that's genuinely amazing news, but this does not mean you are except from getting Covid-19.
5. Therapist to wear mask/face shield and apron💆🏽♂️
As of January 2022, cases in the UK are falling post the biggest peak we've seen yet - so yay, but also urge caution! To help minimise any spread, I will be wearing aprons religiously and masks if needed.
6. No more Handshakes 🤝🏼
Habits are hard to break and this is no exception! But, if one is likely to carry the virus it is on their hands, so handshakes are therefore a huge problem in terms of spreading Covid-19. I'm no scrooge, so instead foot taps, elbow barges or other imaginative greetings are encouraged! By 2023, depending on the situation, I'm hoping to revert this.
7. Deep Clean between Appointments✨
For people's confidence, as much as we had our daily cleaning list already, we will look to clean all surfaces, including light switches and door handles, before and after each appointment, so when you turn up, everything is as clean as if you were the first client to enter the room! I want clients to be as comfortable as I can make them!
8. Toilet Cleaned after every use 🚽
Following the last point, we clean the toilet throughout the day, but we will be scrubbing the toilet upon every use. My other half and myself will not be using that toilet - it is THE client toilet and I endeavour for it to be sparkling clean upon each visit to the WC! On that note...
9. Advise clients to use the toilet at home and bring their own water bottles 🚰
We won't deny any client the use of the toilet or a drink, but I strongly suggest you try to go to the loo before you get here to minimise risk of contamination. This goes for bringing your own water/fluids with you.
10. Gaps between appointments to increase ⌚
As a result of extra cleaning, we will be looking to increase the gaps between clients to 45 minutes to accommodate a real thorough scrub down. I shall leave no stone unturned! It also reduces the chance of clients crossing paths. So from the 21/03/2020, all appointments booked will be spaced out accordingly.
In this regard, please do not attend appointments before your allocated times and I apologise if I don't have the luxury of post-session chat as I may have an appointment to prepare for after yours.
11. Wash hands upon arrival 🧼
Do not feel insulted if I ask you to wash your hands or use alcohol based gel sanitiser upon arrival. I've got to make sure that you are not bringing any unsavoury virus into my clinic space, for other clients and my own well-being. If you wash your hands, I have accumulated individual flannel towels so no client has to share a towel. After using a towel, please place in the bin provided.
12. Therapist to regularly use Lateral Flow Tests and encourage clients to follow suit 🧪
Lateral Flow Tests aren't as freely available as they once were, but, if you can, it is recommended you take one before seeing me, especially if you think you may have been exposed to Covid-19. This isn't mandatory, but strongly advised. I'll be taking one regularly to reduce any chance of spreading Covid-19 and to bolster client confidence.
13. Alcohol Sanitiser Gel dispensers 💧
We have purchased a touch-less dispenser as well as multiple bottles of hand sanitiser for a quick and easy method to kills bacteria and Covid-19. Remember, thorough hand washing with soap is just as effective, so either or is fine by me!
14. Towels to be washed at 60 degrees 🔥
NHS staff have been advised to wash uniforms at 60 degrees plus to decrease chances of contamination. Hence we will be doing the same with the towels between every use.
15. No Signature on Delivery 🖋
When you do buy with us, we won't be making signatures a requirement. A lot of postal services are already adapting, but, as to put our couriers in an awkward position, we just won't be requesting signatures for the time being. The less gadgets etc. passed between hands the better, even if it just signing for a parcel. Little things can make a big difference!
If you would like to continue to support me from afar, please take a look at the PowerKnapp Store - the prices are more competitive than you may assume, especially taking into account the Loyalty Discount that all clients are entitled to. If you are after a sports product I do not stock, please get in touch as I am likely to be able to source it quickly and at a reasonable price.
16. Card Payment Preferred 🏧
Following from the same mentality as the previous point, cash will be accepted, just not encouraged. PowerKnapp will be urging people to use card payments - where possible - as cash and notes can be an incredibly underestimated means of spreading germs and viruses. Bank Transfer is also available.
If you would like to continue to support me, please take a look at the PowerKnapp Store - the prices are more competitive than you may assume, especially taking into account the Loyalty Discount that all clients are entitled to. If you are after a product I do not stock, please get in touch as I am likely to be able to source it quickly and at a reasonable price.
Past Restrictions/Guidelines:
- Contactless thermometer 🌡
A quick check upon the start of every session to ensure all clients are not exhibiting a fever or above average temperatures before being treated. As said, clients should no be coming to appointments ill, Covid-19 or not. Unfortunately, my thermometer broke! So if you have a fever, please do not attend.
- Free Delivery on all purchases 🚚
During Covid-19, household expenditure was tightened, so the PowerKnapp Store offered free delivery on all orders to encourage people to stay active - and families still had birthdays to buy for! But now with cost of living crisis, we are unable to continue this offer.
Watch this space for more updates! Love to you all and stay safe!
Cameron Knapp
Director @ PowerKnapp Ltd.