Everyday activities such as shopping can present their own challenges for some colleagues and customers. Therefore, it is important to ensure our spaces are accessible and supportive for those who need them – particularly as not all needs are immediately apparent or visible. 

To help retailers equip themselves with knowledge about the different needs customers may have when visiting a store, we’ve revamped our Everyone Welcome guide, which sets out the ways that stores can adapt their environment and processes to ensure they are providing the correct support for disabled and vulnerable customers, as well as those with additional needs. 

We know convenience stores are community hubs for all ages and demographics of customers, as well as a place where people can re-enter the workplace or find work when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to, so it’s important that we as a sector highlight the fact that everyone is welcome in our stores. 

Opinion: Focus on what works in your store to drive success

The Everyone Welcome guide gives you and your colleagues the tools to be confident when serving customers or employing people with additional needs as a result of dementia, sight loss, hearing loss and hidden disabilities, among others. 

It also covers how to ensure that you’re catering for additional accessibility needs that some customers might need, such as those who use wheelchairs, walking frames or walking sticks. 

For those who have additional needs, it’s important they know they can go into your business and shop with confidence, so we’ve created a tool that you can use to shout about what you do in store. 

You can generate a poster specific to your business that includes everything from baby-change facilities, wider aisles and hearing-aid loops to quiet hours, level access and being dog-friendly. 

Visit acs.org.uk and click on the ‘Everyone Welcome’ link to get started. 

Read more of our expert opinion on the independent retail sector