One of the most beloved supermarket chains in the United States has been hiding something for years. Did you know that there is a time slot when they change completely? It’s known as the Walmart secret hour, which renders the stores unrecognizable. Once you know why, you’ll want to shop at their stores again, and you’ll appreciate it as much as thousands of people do now.
Walmart´s secret hour: have you gone grocery shopping at this time of day?
Walmart, as you should know, is one of the largest retailers in the world, is operating in more than 10,000 locations present across the United States. The clientele base of the organization is big. The clientele is estimated to include 230 million people per week.
Sensitivity supported buying time are set times of room for stores to implement steps in which these shopping places are made to include the most of sensory needs of customers with special related needs. You have to take into consideration that there are elements that may excite the senses like loud music and strong lighting.
Here, calming down shoppers, who are aware of the high concentration, must be done in order to make shopping easier for those who require more attention to perform their normal tasks in the same way as anyone else does. Tailoring the morning hours of operation to these unique groups is a step forward.
Walmart sensory hours, explained: created specially for these people
Walmart has introduced new sensory friendly shopping hours at all of its over 4,700 stores across the United States. During these special hours, Walmart makes adjustments to the in-store environment to make shopping more inclusive and accessible for customers with sensory needs.
The sensory friendly hours are offered for two hours every week – one hour on either Wednesday or Thursday morning, before the store opens. During the sensory friendly shopping time, Walmart turns down in-store music, television programming and dims the lights from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. every day.
They also reduce the use of overhead pages from staff members to decrease excessive noise. Shopping carts are available right at the entrance of the store to minimize waiting. Special blue vests are worn by associates to allow customers to easily identify staff members if they need assistance.
These small changes to the typical Walmart shopping experience help create a calmer, more welcoming environment for customers with autism, dementia, PTSD or other conditions where loud sounds, bright lights and crowds can cause overstimulation.
Simple changes that make a hufe difference: Walmart knew what to do
One major change is adjusting the lighting in the store. Bright fluorescent overhead lighting can be harsh and overwhelming for some individuals. During sensory friendly hours, Walmart dims the lights to create a softer, more calming atmosphere.
In addition to lighting, Walmart also reduces background noise and distractions. Things like intercom announcements and loud music over the speaker system are eliminated or softened during these times. For some customers, these auditory stimuli can feel bombarding and make it hard to concentrate.
Walmart has also implemented special cart assistance for those who may need it during sensory friendly hours. Store associates have training to help customers who struggle with maneuvering carts or becoming overstimulated from navigating the aisles.
With simple but thoughtful modifications like these to the in-store experience, Walmart aims to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all during the new sensory friendly hours. The lighting, noise reductions, and cart assistance directly target areas that can cause overstimulation for some customers.
This Walmart sensory hours leaves us with a moral that we can learn from other chains. A service as necessary as food shopping should be inclusive, with preferential attention for people who need it. How many times have we stopped to think about people with sensory hypersensitivity? Very few, but it seems that this chain has taken a popular decision in all its stores that will remain during years.
