More efforts to make retail accessible for all

Wednesday 14 November 2018

Guernsey's first Purple Tuesday was a success with frank discussions about how to make shopping an accessible experience for everyone.

The national initiative came to Guernsey thanks to the Guernsey Disability Alliance and companies such as the Co op and Sure whose representatives spoke about how they work with staff to ensure all customers feel at ease and welcome.

There was a 'round the fire' discussion at the Market, in front of guests including other retailers such as representatives of Boots as well as the St Peter Port Douzaine and charities.

They heard Tanya Dorrity from the Channel Islands Co-op explain how well their 'quiet hours' shopping scheme as work, with requests for it to be extended so that there is longer for people to browse in peace, if they don't like the usual hustle and bustle of supermarkets.

Ms Dorrity said the Sunflower lanyard scheme also works very well for them, and they've even worked with customers who don't like wearing something around their neck by customising a lanyard into a hair attachment for one young girl.

As well as the sunflower scheme which is being rolled out at more places after Guernsey Airport adopted the idea from Gatwick, so passengers could show they needed assistance without asking for it, the Accessible for All scheme is introducing 'kite marks' for shops so they can confirm their staff have completed training to enable them to work more confidently with people, including those with hidden disabilities.

Pictured: Karen Blanchard of the Guernsey Disability Alliance with one of the new 'kite marks'.

Karen Blanchford said organisations like Guille Alles Library, Sure and the Co-op are setting a good example by enrolling staff on training schemes, which are similar to the popular 'dementia friends' schemes. She wanted to encourage more business to take on this training before the St Peter Port Accessible Christmas Lights shopping event on 3 December.

Ms Blanchford said the training is not arduous, and some of it is available free online, while some is given in the form of 'hints and tips' about how to make your business more accessible. 

She said that includes thinking about the layout of your shop, ensuring there are fewer obstructions, providing a chair for customers to sit on and other simple yet effective methods.

Pictured: There was a small crowd gathered to listen to the open discussion on making shopping more accessible for all. 

Deputy Andrea Dudley Owen said the Committee for Economic Development wants to improve access for all as part of its retail strategy. 

She said it is important to retailers and other industries to think about how access affects them and their business, she said there are "challenges and opportunities."

Deputy Dudley Owen said skills and training are always important, and that while the States want people to come into town to spend money to boost the economy it is actually a much wider issue, of inclusion, Town planning and other factors. 

She said with our historic town there is a legacy including some infrastructure issues which need to be addressed, but also shops need to do their bit which includes how people are met and greeted when they come into shops.

She praised the lanyard scheme and training already being done, which she said all adds to the customer service experience. 

Ms Dorrity said all retailers should also be considering how stores are laid out and how they fill shops with goods to sell, with Deputy Dudley Owen describing shopping as sometimes being like "an assault on the senses," saying she'd rather more shops work towards making shopping a much nicer experience. 

Ms Blanchford said access for all, is about making access easier for everyone and about ensuring everyone has that opportunity to go shopping when they like. 

It will also help businesses she said, because it will just keep getting better and better, especially if they encourage the purple pound to be spent in their stores. 

Pictured: The 'round the fireplace' discussion on access for all yesterday.