MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 8, 2024
/CNW/ - Walmart Canada is proud to announce the launch of
sensory-friendly hours in stores across Canada.
As part of Walmart Canada's commitment to create a more
inclusive shopping experience for all, these dedicated hours aim to
make shopping our stores accessible to customers who may experience
sensory overload by providing a less stimulating environment.
Approximately 33% of people experience sensory sensitivity or
overload, with more than 25 diagnoses or differences contributing
to it, according to Sensory Friendly Solutions. This means visual
and auditory stimuli can be too intense to process, which can cause
discomfort or frustration for customers as they shop.
All 403 Walmart stores in Canada will now offer sensory-friendly hours
from store opening until 10 a.m.
local time every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, where possible.
During these designated hours, the goal is to create a calmer
experience by eliminating or reducing potential sensory stimuli.
There will be minimal sounds, with no music or radio advertisements
and announcements/paging paused except for emergencies. In
addition, only static, low-sensory images will be used on TV
walls.
"This is such an important step we're taking to create a more
inviting and positive shopping experience for customers who
experience sensory overload and their families," said Joe Schrauder, Head of Store Operations, Walmart
Canada. "We want our stores to be a place where all customers and
associates feel they belong."
"Sensory sensitivity and sensory overload are more common than
you think. It can be experienced by your family, your friend, your
co-workers, your customer and maybe even you," said Christel Seeberger, Founder and CEO, Sensory
Friendly Solutions. "And as a person with lived experience, I know
it can stop people from living everyday life. Sensory-friendly
environments and experiences make everyday life more accessible,
inclusive and invite more people to participate and belong. And
that's why change in a busy, noisy, bright world is needed."
"When I found out about the sensory-friendly hours at Walmart, I
was over the moon that something like that was started," said
Amber Fraser, a Walmart customer who
lives with a traumatic brain injury. "We all need to shop, and
we all need to go out and do things. I think sensory-friendly hours
will be great for not only me but many other people. It might make
them feel more comfortable and less anxious going out and I'm happy
that Walmart is the start of it."
"I've been in a few car accidents in my life and they left me
with concussions. It leaves you very sensitive to noise and it
doesn't go away," said Mary Lisa
Fraser, a Walmart customer. "[Sensory-friendly hours] mean
that I could shop longer, be more comfortable and not afraid of
something that's going to give me a jolt. It's wonderful; I've
never heard of anything like this, so I think it's extremely
thoughtful."
About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores
nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's
flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by more than 1.5
million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart
Canada is one of Canada's largest
employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most
influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program
is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994
Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $750 million to Canadian charities. Additional
information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart
Canada's social media pages – Facebook, X (formerly
known as Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Wal-Mart Canada Corp.