Guidance on premises
Product or display walls
Being able to reach products and services is important for sales and also a person's self-respect and dignity when they are shopping. Trying to make goods available at a variety of heights whilst maximising display space is a challenge, but creates independence.
Design focus
- The main requirement in Premises Standards is for people to be able to access goods and services. This has clear implications for how they are displayed and arranged, but no specific guidance is provided.
Additional considerations for more dignified access
- A principle that assists in maximising access to shelving is to align similar goods in columns rather than rows so that a selection of each type of good is accessible at a reasonable height.
- Team members also play a pivotal role in assisting customers who have reach and stretch restrictions.
- Consider the issue of glare when viewing products and information from a seated position.
- Ensure that product walls or display tables have clear access in front of and around at least 1m so that customers can view your goods in comfort.
- Check that information content is easily understood, easily seen, unobstructed and jargon-free.
- Consider the ‘reading age’ of the content as it will enable people of different communication capabilities, including English as a second language, to better understand what you are selling.
- Can your products be accessed to test, feel and manipulate?
