Woolworths has expanded its Quiet Hour initiative to five days a week, offering a more inclusive shopping experience for customers who experience sensory sensitivities.
Between 10:30am and 11:30am, Monday to Friday, the majority of Woolworths stores will implement measures to create a calmer environment. These include dimming the lights, lowering or switching off in-store music and announcements, silencing checkout beeps, and disabling oven buzzers.
Initially introduced in 2019 as a once-a-week initiative, Quiet Hour was developed in partnership with disability service provider Life Without Barriers. The programme was designed to meet a growing demand for low-sensory shopping environments and has since expanded to over 900 stores across Australia. By reducing sensory stimuli, the initiative allows customers to shop with greater comfort and independence.
Jeanette Fenske, Woolworths’ Director of Stores, highlighted the positive impact of the initiative: “Our customers have shared incredibly encouraging feedback, and our teams take pride in fostering an environment that is more accessible and stress-free during Quiet Hour.
“This programme has become a key part of how we support customer independence in our stores, complementing other accessible shopping options such as Direct to Boot and home delivery.
“Following successful trials during peak shopping seasons, including Christmas, we are delighted to extend Quiet Hour to five days a week, ensuring more customers can benefit from a less overwhelming shopping experience.”
Claire Robbs, Chief Executive of Life Without Barriers, praised the expansion, stating: “Increasing Quiet Hour from one day to five is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive retail experience. Woolworths has shown real leadership in recognising the needs of many individuals in our community and taking proactive steps to support them.
“By offering a low-sensory environment more frequently, Woolworths is giving more people the opportunity to shop with ease, independence, and confidence.”
During Quiet Hour, the following temporary adjustments are made in participating stores:
- Switching off bakery oven and chicken cooker buzzers
- Reducing the volume of store phones and checkout registers
- Keeping store entryways clear
- Dimming overhead lighting and silencing in-store music
- Removing roll cages from aisles
- Suspending PA announcements, except for emergencies
With this expansion, Woolworths continues its commitment to providing a welcoming and accessible shopping experience for all customers.
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