Purple Tuesday, the UK’s first accessible shopping day, will take place on Tuesday 13th November 2018 to coincide with the run up to the peak Christmas period.
It aims to raise awareness of the value and needs of disabled consumers and encourage sustainable changes in business practices that improve customer experience over the long term.
Purple Tuesday has been created and coordinated by disability organisation Purple.
But it would not be possible without the endorsement of the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, and the support of some of the UK’s biggest retailers and retail property groups, including Argos, Asda, and Marks & Spencer.
It’s great to see Purple Tuesday taking place because many people with disabilities still face barriers that stop them doing everyday things like shopping and spending time on leisure activities.
How to get involved
Retailers are now being asked to sign-up to Purple Tuesday and take some simple steps:
1. Support and promote Purple Tuesday before and during the day itself
2. Consider the steps they can take to improve their accessibility over the long-term
3. Make a minimum of one pledge aimed at improving the experience for disabled customers going forward (see the Introducing Purple Tuesday document on the Purple website for more details)
Retailers who sign up are also being encouraged to:
- Go Purple for the day – whether it’s posters, bunting, shop windows, t-shirts, your social media, and website, or even your products (who could say no to purple cakes?!). Purple Tuesday’s branding pack is freely available for you to use.
- Get social – share your support for the day, your commitments and what you’re up to. Don’t forget to tag @purpletuesdayuk and #PurpleTuesday
- Educate your staff and customers – take a minute to explain why you’re participating and why it’s important
Consider physical AND digital accessibility
Purple Tuesday reminds us it’s important for retailers to think about physical accessibility (e.g. adequate access to buildings, fully-working and accessible disabled toilets, audio induction loop systems etc) as well as digital accessibility.
For example, one of the pledges retailers can make for Purple Tuesday is to improve the accessibility of websites and apps.
The findings of The Click-Away Pound Survey in 2016 show how important it is for retailers to change their approach to disabled customers and improve the digital accessibility of websites and apps.
According to the results:
- 71% of disabled customers with access needs will click away from a website that they find difficult to use.
- Those customers who click away have an estimated spending power of £11.75 billion in the UK alone, around 10% of the total UK online spend in 2016.
- 82% of customers with access needs would spend more if websites were more accessible.
A wonderful chance to make shopping more accessible
So here’s to a great first-ever Purple Tuesday, which retailers can use to improve the physical and digital accessibility of shopping for customers with disabilities across the UK.
It’s a wonderful chance for retailers to give people with disabilities the shopping experience they deserve, whilst allowing retailers to tap into a new market that will help them grow their businesses.
If you have questions you can check out the Purple Tuesday website or email info@purpletuesday.org.uk.
100’s of organisations already use Recite Me to make their websites more accessible for people with disabilities – call 0191 4328092 to find out more or book your free demo now.
