Can do:Shelf-mounted magnifiers have been installed in 30 stores of The Southern Co-operative to help those with low vision to read labels. Following a trial of the i-viewer magnifiers, which are designed to help people with eyesight problems read food labels more easily, 380 of the viewers have been installed in 30 stores across the south of England. The Coop said the in-store magnifiers are invaluable for shoppers with low vision wanting to check ingredients. The retailer said it had already received positive comments from shoppers who had used the i-viewers.
According to research conducted with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), 83 per cent of people surveyed said they had problems with reading small product labels, while 60 per cent of spectacle wearers said they forgot them regularly when shopping. In addition, twenty million people in the UK suffer from allergies. Robin Spinks, principal manager, at RNIB said: 'Shopping can be a challenging and frustrating experience for people with poor eyesight; i-viewer is an excellent example of how a simple and affordable adjustment can make a big difference.'
Steve Tremlett, The Southern Co-operative’s head of retail business development, said: 'We are always looking for opportunities to improve customer service. Having received very positive feedback from customers and colleagues during our i-viewer trials, we’ve been rolling these out since last Autumn in our new and refurbished stores. I believe this is a very effective way of enhancing the shopping experience for customers who have sight problems, or who just want to be able to read product labels more easily. The Southern Co-operative is proud to be the UK’s first multiple retailer to have the foresight to install these.'
