Debenhams shows vision

Department store Debenhams has partnered with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to help blind and partially sighted women shop more independently.

The retailer has trained its personal shoppers about blind and partially sighted customers, with its service to be available across Debenhams 134 stores in the UK. Personal shoppers will describe colour, cut and shape of the clothes to interested shoppers.

Lesley-Anne Alexander, chief executive of RNIB, said: 'It makes strong commercial sense for retailers to encourage blind and partially sighted people into their stores. RNIB's own recent research shows that 76 per cent of blind and partially sighted people said that finding things in shops was "difficult" or "impossible" so clearly there is a desperate need for this service.