Enhancing Accessibility in Retail: Partnering with Blind Ambition to Welcome Disabled Customers and Team Members
Blind Ambition, an internationally award-winning consultancy, is committed to advancing disability awareness and fostering accessible environments within the retail sector. Our MD, Seema Flower, has over 35 years of experience as a visually impaired leader. Through professional engagements with global entities and renowned retailers, she offers a distinctive blend of personal insight and professional expertise.
Why Partner with Blind Ambition?
At Blind Ambition, we specialize in comprehensive accessibility training and consultancy services, understanding the substantial potential of disabled customers, who contribute an estimated £274 billion to the UK economy. Our extensive experience with consumer product companies, major retailers, and retail shopping centres with over £2 billion turnover equips us to provide bespoke training that meets diverse accessibility needs.
Our Expertise in Accessibility Includes:
- Lived Experience: We offer practical insights into sighted guide training and workplace adjustments, enriched by real-world experiences.
- Commitment to Co-Production: We collaborate closely with our partners to align our training with your objectives, enhancing your team’s ability to provide inclusive customer service and colleague support.
Proposed Contributions:
- Disability Awareness Training / Visual Awareness Training: Our training covers both customer interactions and internal team dynamics, ensuring all staff members can confidently contribute to an inclusive environment.
- Creating an Inclusive Culture: Experienced in working with companies like Cambridge University Press, we help global teams embrace inclusivity.
- Comprehensive Audits: We conduct thorough audits of your existing training materials and practices to identify areas for enhancement.
- Recruitment and Selection: We help audit your recruitment processes to close employment gaps for disabled individuals, suggesting practical, cost-effective adjustments.
- Content Co-Creation: We develop training materials that not only comply with legal standards but also advance best practices in accessibility.
The Purple Pound: Unleashing the Potential
The Purple Pound refers to the significant spending power of households with at least one disabled member. Despite this considerable market, businesses are missing out on substantial revenue due to poor accessibility and a lack of confidence in serving disabled customers.
- 1 in 5: Over 20% of potential UK consumers have a disability.
- £2 billion: Businesses lose around £2 billion monthly by not addressing the needs of disabled individuals.
- 73%: Nearly three-quarters of disabled customers encounter barriers on more than 25% of websites they visit.
- £16 billion: The estimated online spending power of disabled individuals exceeds £16 billion.
- £17.1 billion: 4.3 million disabled online shoppers who leave inaccessible websites have a combined spending power of £17.1 billion in the UK.
- 14.1 million: The disabled population in the UK has grown from 11.9 million in 2014 to 14.1 million.
- 75%: Three-quarters of disabled people and their families have left a UK business due to poor accessibility or service.
- 1 in 5: Nearly 20% of working adults have a disability.
- £274 billion: The total spending power of disabled people and their households is estimated at £274 billion per year.
Research indicates various sectors are losing money each month due to inaccessibility:
- High Street Shops: £267 million
- Restaurants/Pubs/Clubs: £163 million
- Supermarkets: £501 million
- Energy Companies: £44 million
- Phone/Internet Providers: £49 million
- Transport Providers: £42 million
- Banks or Building Societies: £935 million
Source: Purple Pound data from WeArePurple.org.uk
Conclusion:
Partnering with Blind Ambition provides a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact on the retail sector’s approach to disability inclusion. Through targeted training and support, we aim to enhance the experience of both customers and colleagues, ensuring inclusivity is central to your operations. We are keen to discuss how we can collaborate effectively to achieve these goals and create a more inclusive retail environment. Please, contact us for more information. Together, we can open doors to disabled customers and team members alike, enriching the diversity of your workforce, customer base, and adding to your bottom line.
