Hello =
everyone:
Each month I will be =
responding to a question; chosen from a pool of some of the most =
commonly asked ones that I have been asked over the years and continue =
to be asked.
This month, I’d like to =
answer the following question:
How to make your corner grocery more =
accessible
Just in time to meet the =
restrictions of a pandemic.
By Donna =
J. Jodhan
Before you say no or turn thumbs down on these =
suggestions; consider these thoughts.
You can definitely increase your revenue and reduce =
both your internal and external costs and here’s how.
Take it from =
me! I have been an accessibility awareness consultant and =
advisor since 1998 and I continue to help companies to increase their =
revenues, reduce their costs, and reach hidden consumer =
markets!
A corner grocery establishment is always one where you =
can do good business and why?
Because =
it is the place that so many come to in a pinch or whenever they need to =
get things in a hurry.
So with this =
in mind, let us concentrate on helping you to bring in more than just =
the regular type of customer. I am referring to customers with =
special needs or one with a disability.
Here are some tips to get you =
started.
1. Make your front entrance easy to find and =
navigate. It should be wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and =
walkers and strollers. In addition, make it easy to identify by =
having it stand out; put it in colours that are easy to help customers =
identify it.
2. Make your =
sign clearly visible; locate it in a spot that is easy to find and =
identify. Make your sign with background and foreground that give =
good contrast. Make letters large enough to read and use fonts =
that are not too difficult to read.
3. Make =
aisles wide enough for wheelchairs, walkers, and for persons using =
canes.
4. Do not clutter shelves and arrange your items in =
such a way that are easy to find. Make it easy to identify what is =
in each aisle.
5. Use =
colours that are easy to help customers distinguish floors from =
shelves. That is, provide adequate contrast.
6. Place =
your check out counter in an easy to find location and provide adequate =
room for shoppers to check out.
7. =
Make sure that your staff is trained to provide assistance whenever a =
customer with a disability requests it.
8. Provide =
choices at check out time; that is, not just those self check out =
machines, but also cash registers manned by live =
persons.
This should be a good start.