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The Channel Islands Co-op has launched a new 'Quiet Time' aimed at reducing stress for shoppers who don't like the noise some associate with grocery stores.
This Quiet Time follows the trial of a Quiet Hour which is being extended across the larger Co-ops and will now see longer spells of quieter shopping, including on Saturdays for the first time.
The aim of Quiet Time is to help reduce stress of the weekly shop for members of the community.
Quiet Time will take place on Mondays between 15:00 until 17:00 and Saturdays between 17:00 and 19:00 at the Grandes Marches in St Sampson's and St Martin's.
The lights will be dimmed with no music and reduced "bleeps" at the tills. Roller cages will be banned from the shop floor during the Quiet Time too to reduce the normal "hustle and bustle" associated with shopping.
Pictured: The St Martin's Co op will be adopting the new Quiet Time sessions.
Carl Winn, Head of Community and Sustainability at CI Coop said previous trials with the Quiet Hour generated positive feedback.
“The Coop is at the heart of our community, and we recognise what an important role we play in island life, so we wanted to be more aware and mindful of our customers’ diverse needs.
“Since we launched our quiet hour in 2017, we’ve had so much positive feedback and wanted to extend it to members of the community who can’t shop with us on a Monday between 3-4pm. I’m so excited to be able to widen our reach and continue our journey as an inclusive retailer.”
Autism Guernsey welcomed the move to introduce Quiet Time.
"It is amazing to see the Coop has been able to extend its quiet hour to quiet times in both the Grande Marché stores.
“Many people can feel, see and experience the world differently. For customers with Autism (and other neurodiversity) in particular, the shopping experience can often be overwhelming. A calmer environment with the extended hours is a huge step forward to making an inclusive more relaxing experience for customers."
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