By Tate Papworth
Coles stores in Keilor, Braybrook and Taylors Hill are going quiet.
The supermarket giant last week introduced its low-sensory shopping experience, also known as quiet hour, to its Brimbank stores.
Between 10.30-11.30am every Tuesday, noise and lighting will be reduced, along with other distractions, in an effort to help customers who find it challenging to shop in a heightened sensory environment.
During the hour Coles radio is switched off, register and scanner volumes are reduced, no PA announcements (excluding emergencies) are made and trolley collections stop.
The concept came about after a Victorian customer reached out to the company on Facebook in early 2017 with an idea to reduce noise in store to make it easier for parents shopping with children on the autism spectrum.
Coles accessibility sponsor Peter Sheean said the goal is to roll the concept out to every store.
“We know that it is estimated that one in 70 people in Australia are on the spectrum so that’s a lot of our customers who find it challenging to come into our supermarket,” he said. “Our goal is to offer Quiet Hour at every eligible Coles supermarket by 2023. Unfortunately not all supermarkets currently have the ability or technology … however, we are working hard … to retrofit technology.”
