Hygiene guide at Decathlon stores

A hygiene guide, the opening of several drive-ins (in Bussigny, Bienne, Basel, Sant'Antonino and Zurich) and customized assistance for athletes are among the new services offered by Decathlon Switzerland. As the health of its clientele and employees is an absolute priority, the Group has reinforced hygiene and safety measures in its stores and warehouses before resuming its activities throughout Switzerland on May 11.

"It has always been our goal to make the sport accessible to as many people as possible. This is all the more true in these difficult times. Sport contributes to the mental and physical balance of the Swiss people. Today, we are even more convinced that promoting sport for better health makes us stronger individually and as a community",

explains Olivier Riquier, Communications Manager at Decathlon Switzerland.

Decathlon Switzerland has introduced a series of new measures to enable as many people as possible to access sport in the face of the pandemic that has radically changed and will continue to shape our daily lives and relationships. More than 10 % of Swiss athletes are among Decathlon's regular customers. And the company reaches a total of nearly 20 % of the population. Following the measures taken by the Swiss government in mid-March, which led to the closure of our 23 stores in Switzerland, the www.decathlon.ch website has seen sales growth. This shows how important the sport is for the population during the lockdown.

Our teams continue to be in contact with the athletes via online coaching or even in person - in compliance with the distance rules - and answer questions about training under changed conditions. "By continuing the activities in our warehouse premises - in compliance with the new hygiene regulations - and by the availability of our teams, we have had the effect of continuing and intensifying customer relations. The sport has contributed greatly to the well-being of all generations in recent weeks."

The various initiatives launched, especially on social media, highlight the importance of sport for the population in general. We could observe this phenomenon all over the world and also in Switzerland. Sport became a kind of "armor" against diseases and viruses. The world needs sport as never before. And Decathlon knows how to support casual and competitive athletes in their sporting activities with a unique, high-quality range of products and services.

Drive-ins and hygiene guide
There are several novelties: Decathlon has set up drive-ins in its stores in Bussigny (French-speaking Switzerland), Biel, Basel and Zurich (German-speaking Switzerland) and Sant'Antonino (Ticino). Thanks to this innovation, Decathlon Switzerland can continue to meet the expectations of its clientele and sports enthusiasts. They now receive their items even faster and can pick up their ordered products free of charge and without direct contact from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 5 pm. "All hygiene precautions have been taken to protect our clientele as well as our employees in the best possible way."

Due to current international restrictions, it will probably not be possible to travel far this summer - a stab in the heart for the Swiss who love to travel. Decathlon is encouraging them to discover - and get to know even better - their own country instead, which is considered one of the sportiest. "It is perfectly possible to combine outdoor sports with relaxation exercises, hikes or excursions in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Our sports professionals are still available online and will soon be available again in person in our stores to share their knowledge and exchange ideas with you about your sports experience or expectations in terms of your needs," says Olivier Riquier. In this unprecedented crisis, this is essential and promotes the increase of health and well-being of the population.

Health has top priority even after the lockdown. For this reason, Decathlon Switzerland has drawn up a hygiene guideline. This is already being implemented internally and will be made available to customers when the stores are scheduled to reopen on May 11. In practice, a series of strict measures for enhanced security are applied (shopping carts/baskets are only available on request and are cleaned after each use, test booths offer only limited access, checkouts, information stands and card readers with physical barriers are regularly disinfected, contactless payment is preferred ...). "We are aware of the inconvenience this can cause for our customers. Taking care of you and of others drives the whole team of Decathlon Switzerland every day. Thus, the sales outlets are reopened under the highest safety standards. Together and in solidarity, we are fighting back against the new virus!"