We’ve developed an accessibility guide for Take it away retailers which is designed to give you the confidence to make your shop, website, and promotional activity accessible and inclusive for all. In this extract, we explore what it takes to make a retail premises more accessible for your customers.
When assessing music retailers for Take it away membership, we always check the extent to which their shop is clean, tidy and well-lit, and how well equipped they are to accommodate visitors with access requirements. There are a few ways that you can make a customer’s visit to your shop a comfortable and enjoyable experience:
- Ensure areas open to the public are always free from trip hazards
- Keep heavy doors propped open
- Keep your shop space step-free with the aid of hired ramps or lifts
- Allow plenty of space to enable wheelchair users to manoeuvre freely in the shop
- Use signage to provide clear directions and aid navigation throughout the shop
- Ensure the shop is well-lit to aid visitors with visual impairments
- Ensure contact payment machines can be removed from their cases
- Provide seating to enable people to rest when visiting your shop
- Provide accessible toilets with a hoist and red alarm cord
- Provide water bowls for service animals
The statistics below show why it is worth integrating accessibility into your business activity. It can help you to attract new customers, secure customer loyalty, and ensure you are reaching the widest possible audience.
Percentage of the UK population who identify as disabled (13.9 million people)
Percentage of disabled people who search a venue’s accessibility info online before visiting
1
Money lost every month by inaccessible high street shops
Read more extracts from the Accessibility Guide
Your Accessibility Statement
The key information you should include about accessibility on your website. This can be in the form of a short statement outlining if your shop is accessible for people with limited mobility and highlighting any barriers customers may face when visiting. Read more
Accessible Marketing Communications
How you market and communicate your shop can help improve its overall accessibility. From getting involved in campaigns like Purple Tuesday or producing information in alternative formats, there are many ways you can help create a more inclusive shopping experience for all your customers. Read more
Making Events More Accessible
Workshops and events, such as involvement in Learn to Play Day, are a great way of attracting new potential customers. Make sure you are attracting as wide an audience as possible. Read more
Download the Accessibility Guide
