John Lewis
Access All Areas
Access for disabled customers and those with pushchairs remains a priority in the design, construction and operation of all John Lewis shops. [i]
John Lewis welcomes all its customers and treats every customer as an individual, responding to their particular needs. In the case of disabled customers, it aims to make the shopping experience as easy and as pleasurable as possible, taking all reasonable steps to ensure each customer receives the same high levels of service.
John Lewis has integrated the principles of accessibility into the design, construction and operation of all its shops and continually strives to improve access and respond to customer feedback.
In meeting the 'letter and spirit' of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), more than 200 access audits were conducted with an accessibility consultant, Access Matters.
John Lewis shops have reserved parking bays close to shop entrances, accessible lifts, toilets and till points, and mobile and fixed hearing loops. It also makes key literature available in alternative formats, such as large print, Braille and audio cassette, upon request.
The company has worked with Access Matters to improve access to its older buildings and continually reviews its service and physical access levels to ensure it meets the individual needs of all its customers.
John Lewis' commitment to access has earned several awards:
- In 2004, johnlewis.com won an International Visual and Communication Association (IVCA) award for its accessibility
- John Lewis Peterborough was nominated for a Deafblind Friendly award, run by the charities Sense and Deafblind UK, in recognition of Partners' efforts to meet the needs of customers with sight and hearing difficulties. [ii]