STAFF at Minty Beds in Botley have been busy serving customers after they reopened following the coronavirus lockdown.

For 31 years the firm and its showroom has been based at the Curtis industrial estate and it is keen to remind customers that it will do everything it can to keep serving them as lockdown is eased.

Bosses were forced to close the showroom when the government enforced the closure of non-essential retail premises at the end of the March.

READ AGAIN: No 'great British bender' at pubs as drinkers cautiously return

Since reopening on June 15 there have been a steady stream of customers visiting the showroom at the industrial estate in North Hinksey Lane.

Oxford Mail:

Ray Harris is the oldest member of staff at Minty Beds and has worked there for 18 years.

He said: “Of course we had to close in March but we are delighted to be back open again and have been seeing lots of customers.

“We are pleased to be up and running again and all our staff are back from furlough.

“There have been a lot of changes as a result of the coronavirus and we are doing everything we can to keep staff and customers safe.”

Mr Harris said when mattresses arrive from the manufacturers they are kept in quarantine for about 48 hours before they are displayed in the showroom.

READ MORE: Mum stunned as baby girl is born in her amniotic sac

He added: “We have brought in lots of new measures to keep everyone safe and we are using lots of surface spray and sanitiser.

Oxford Mail:

“In the past customers would try pretty much every mattress in the showroom but at the moment that causes problems so we encourage them to think about what kind of mattress they are looking for - soft, medium or firm - before they start trying them out and then we can direct them to the ones that might suit them best without them having to try everyone in the store. Every time someone tries out one of the mattresses we have to change the plastic coverings.”

READ MORE: Expect queues when Oxfordshire libraries start to reopen

Mr Harris added that at present there are also restrictions on the company’s delivery service due to the coronavirus. Staff are being asked not to go into people’ s homes unless there are exceptional circumstances, so most customers are being asked to construct new beds themselves, and carry their new mattresses inside.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Harris said: “If someone is old or disabled for example then we will do whatever we can to help - we are just trying to stick to the guidelines as best we can at the moment.”

Minty Beds has been offering free delivery for all customers with an OX postcode. Call 01865 250039.