Woolies to reduce sensory stressors

WOOLWORTHS Charters Towers is now offering a lowsensory “quiet hour” shopping experience designed to reduce anxiety and sensory stress for customers with specific needs.

During quiet hour, lights would be lowered, music or radios turned down, oven buzzers turned off, store entry ways cleared, all PA announcements (excluding cases of emergencies) would cease, and roll cages would be removed from the shop floor for an hour.

This will happen every Tuesday between 10.30am and 11.30am.

Following a successful trial in select stores, quiet hour would now be rolled out nationally.

To date, there were already more than 750 stores nationwide who offered the thoughtful initiative.

Woolworths store manager Casey Dyball said customers said there was a need in the community for a low-sensory shopping experience.

“We’re pleased to expand quiet hour to Woolworths Charters Towers,” Mr Dyball said.

“Our team takes great pride in ensuring the store is quieter and less stressful for customers who want to shop during quiet hour and we look forward to welcoming them in store.”

The low sensory initiative was developed in consultation with disability service providers at Life Without Barriers.

Life Without Barriers chief executive Claire Robbs said quiet hour was a fantastic initiative by Woolworths that recognised the different needs of some customers.

“It gives people a way to do their shopping and increase their independence in an environment that is not stressful and overwhelming to them,” she said.