Starbucks is committing to taking new steps to make its stores more welcoming to people with disabilities. (Starbucks)
Starbucks is making big changes to ensure its stores are more inclusive and accessible to employees and customers with disabilities, in a move it aims to serve as a model for other retailers.
The company this month unveiled new accessibility guidelines that detail a design framework to help “expand independence, choice, and ease for all people in physical and digital spaces.”
The standards, which will apply to all newly built and renovated company-operated stores in the U.S., include optimized acoustics and lighting, electric doors and a visual status panel to notify customers when their order is being prepared and when it’s ready. Under the plan, Starbucks will also provide more accessible equipment for employees, improve the flow of its stores to ensure barrier-free walkways and lower counters to provide wheelchair access, among other improvements.
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Starbucks officials said they worked with customers, employees and accessibility experts to develop the so-called Inclusive Spaces Framework. The guidelines will be open source and will continue to evolve to further expand accessibility in the retail sector, they said.
The first new store built to inclusive specifications opened last week at Union Market in Washington, D.C. Starbucks said it plans to open additional stores beyond its more than 16,000 existing locations, with growth forecast to be about 4%. for this year.
“At Starbucks, we’ve challenged ourselves to imagine what’s possible when we take a closer look at the many ways our partners and customers interact with us and experience our stores every day,” said Katie Young, senior vice president of operations. company store. . “Building and expanding an inclusive store framework is critical to our mission of connection and will lead to greater access for all.”
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