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.