Sainsbury’s, Argos step up hidden disability initiative

Sainsbury’s and Argos have announced the nationwide roll-out of sunflower lanyards in their stores, to help enhance the shopping experience for customers with hidden disabilities, such as autism, dementia, visual or hearing impairment and anxiety.

This follows on from a trial earlier this year, with the sunflower lanyard designed to act as a discreet sign for store colleagues that they may need to provide a customer with additional support. That includes help with finding items or giving customers more time at the checkout. Lanyards will be available to collect for free and are for each customer to keep so they can use it every time they come into store.

The sunflower design is now recognised by a number of organisations across the UK and was initially adopted by Gatwick Airport, whom Sainsbury’s worked closely with throughout the trial. “As we work towards our vision of being the UK’s most inclusive retailer, we’re proud to be offering sunflower lanyards in all stores,” says Tim Fallowfield, Board Sponsor for Disability Carers and Age at Sainsbury’s.

“Not all disabilities are visible, and it’s clear that a subtle signal can make a big difference in providing confidence and reassurance. Together with our colleagues, we hope to give all our customers the best possible experience when shopping, while working with the wider industry to raise awareness.”