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Emma Miller of ‘Love on the Spectrum’ helped introduce the initiative by sharing her experience through social media
NEED TO KNOW
- Sephora announced it is expanding its “Quiet Hours” initiative to stores worldwide
- The launch was celebrated with a social media collaboration featuring Love on the Spectrum star Emma Miller
- The beauty retailer joins companies like Walmart, AMC Theatres, Target and Chuck E. Cheese in offering sensory-friendly experiences
Sephora is introducing a quieter way to shop.
The beauty retailer announced it is rolling out “Quiet Hours” globally, introducing designated shopping periods with lower music, reduced sensory distractions and a calmer atmosphere designed for customers who prefer a less stimulating environment.
The initiative follows a pilot program at 32 Sephora stores across eight markets, which the company said received positive feedback from shoppers and employees. The company said it developed “Quiet Hours” with input from the neurodiversity community, including advocacy organizations Open Inclusion and Purposeful Futures, as well as Sephora’s employee resource groups.
To mark the launch, Sephora shared a collaborative Instagram Reel featuring Love on the Spectrum star Emma Miller, who documented her experience shopping during “Quiet Hours.” Several of her fellow cast members applauded the initiative in the comments.
“Sephora is always so challenging for me to tolerate 😢,” Kaelynn Partlow wrote.
“This is awesome! Go @emmasuesviews and go @sephora!” Tanner Smith commented.
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The designated shopping hours will include lower music volume, adjusted digital screens and fewer sensory distractions, according to the company. Sephora said the changes are intended to benefit anyone seeking a calmer shopping experience, including neurodivergent customers.
“With ‘Quiet Hours’ at Sephora, we provide a beautifully calm atmosphere where clients feel welcome, allowing them to shop at their own pace, find and purchase the products they love,” Deborah Yeh, Sephora’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, said in a statement.
Sephora is among several major retailers that have introduced sensory-friendly initiatives aimed at creating a more accessible shopping experience.
In 2023, Walmart announced it would permanently expand its sensory-friendly shopping hours to all U.S. and Puerto Rico stores after a successful pilot program. During those hours, stores lower lights where possible, turn off the radio and display static images on television walls to create a less stimulating environment.
Other companies have adopted similar accommodations. AMC Theatres offers Sensory Friendly Film screenings in partnership with the Autism Society, featuring lower sound levels, brighter lighting and an environment where guests are free to move around during the movie.
Retailers including Target and Chuck E. Cheese have also implemented sensory-friendly experiences in their stores.
Read the original article on People
