How Are Brands Building Bridges By Adding Inclusivity In Their Store Designs?

By Author: D'Art Design
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We live in a diverse world where no two humans are of the same kind, whether it's the sleeping towns or bustling cities. But there are certain consumer traits that can't be changed. One of them is the growing need for accessibility for everyone, meaning inclusivity.

Retailers who aren't aware or are ignorant of this need of their consumers will face a great loss in their revenue in the coming years. It's not only a social responsibility, but the numbers also support this notion as the families of disabled people also have continuous disposable income. They are willing to pay for their loved ones to have independence and sustainability in their lives.

There are small neurological disorders that occur in people (the number is constantly increasing) due to sensory overload. Being mindful of this need of people will not only help people with disabilities but also those who don't, as it will prevent the occurrence of such things.

As Claudia Brind says, “Inclusivity means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued. I’ve always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly ...
... diverse teams will do impossible things.”

As the quote states, retailers not only have to be inclusive but also welcoming and make their consumers feel wanted and valued. In this health-conscious world, this approach can drive a lot of eyeballs to the physical store as everyone is after a healthy body, and this generation is ready to spend money on their health rather than being sick.

Including all shapes, colors, and religions has become a norm that retailers are carrying on in their store designs through various strategies.

Re-evaluating the in-store strategy
Shopping experience plays a crucial role in making a purchasing decision. If consumers feel any kind of discomfort or face any issue, the chances of them leaving the place are quite high.

This experience for disabled people is totally different from that of others. To understand this living environment, brands have to study universal design and consider all the big and small things that can affect a shopping experience.

Elements like POS that let the consumers see their orders, having Braille menus, or keeping the store interior simple with easy signages help in easy navigation, which makes a huge difference for the people. These omnichannel strategies are not only assistive but also smoothen the shopping journey.

For example, Coca-Cola introduced a special code on their drinks that helps visually impaired consumers find information from a distance of four meters.

Leaning on AI for more inclusivity
AI is the talk of today's world. Discussions regarding what the next step is and what else this technology can do have been going around for quite a bit now. This segment has penetrated all the existing sectors. The retail industry is no different.

As many people appreciate e-commerce, people with disabilities are feeling isolated. That's why labels are introducing assistive technology for better experience and accessibility.

There are many AR and VR technologies that have been integrated into physical stores around the world to cope with any communication or navigation problems that consumers are facing. Brands are also collaborating with apps that can help shoppers navigate through different ailes.

For example, Blind Square is a GPS app created for visually challenged people that helps them to travel independently.

Employee as a brand representative
A store doesn't make a profit because of good equipment and interior aesthetics. Instead, the employees are the ones that keep the consumers coming in. They are the local faces of a brand, making their behavior and actions toward the consumers more crucial than anything else.

Providing them with proper tools, training in etiquette towards disability, and empathy education are some aspects that will help the employees understand their customers and assist them in a better way. This will not only boost the confidence of the staff but will also make the people with disabilities feel seen and valued as all of their expectations and demands will be met.

Not only that, brands must also work on recruiting staff from different ethical backgrounds to show diversity. Maybe that's why Arlan Hamilton says, “If you haven’t hired a team of people who are of color, female, and/or LGBT to actively turn over every stone, to scope out every nook and cranny, to pop out of every bush, to find every qualified underrepresented founder in this country, you’re going to miss out on a lot of money when the rest of the investment world gets it.”

For example, Starbucks opened a store in Jakarta for the deaf, and being considerate of their needs, the coffee brand also employed baristas who were deaf.

Final Verdict
These are some of the small steps that are making a huge difference in the lives of disabled people while also being a source for them to feel independent and connect to other individuals. As retailers work towards smoothening any wrinkles and try to make their physical stores more accessible, they also have to be mindful of taking on-ground reviews of the consumers to improve their services and add those segments in their previous or new retail stores. Timely improvising and adopting innovative concepts like inclusion will show sincerity and commitment towards accepting the change and will positively impact other consumers.

At D'Art Design, you'll find the experience laced with high-standing capabilities of timely and qualitative deliverance. From design to deployment we provide a systematic package boasting ourselves as one-stop solutions. Our holistic range of services, includes visual and structural design, 3D sketch, prototyping, manufacturing, and accomplishment. https://www.dartdesign.in/