How to make your corner grocery more accessible

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.

 

 

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