If you have high sensory registration and struggle with the sensory onslaught of loud PA announcements, crashing trolleys, changes in temperature, smells from the bakery, deli, butcher, seafood and gardening sections, staff with their large oversized cages parked in aisles in the way filling shelves that you have to carefully manoeuvre around, then you might find the “Quiet Hour” offered by supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths appealing.
Woolworths doesn’t appear to have information that is easy to find on their regular website, however in a media release on Friday, 23 August 2019, Woolworths announced they offer a low-sensory Quiet Hour in 260 stores across Australia, which means:
- Reducing volume on store phones and registers on the trading floor;
- Roll cages will be removed from the shop floor; and
- No PA announcements (excluding in case of emergencies).
Coles commits to the following changes during their Quiet Hour:
- Store lighting will be reduced.
- Coles Radio will be turned down.
- Register and scanner volumes will be reduced to the lowest level.
- No trolley collections.
- Roll cages will be removed from the shop floor.
- No PA announcements will be made except in the case of emergencies.
- Additional team members will be available to support customers.
Unfortunately both stores run their Quiet Hour only once a week and have timed them to coincide, so you will need to plan all your shopping for Tuesdays between 10:30am and 11:30am.
Otherwise, you might forgo selecting your fruit and veges yourself and go with the other options of Delivery or Click and Collect.
