A week or so ago, my partner and I (and the unfortunate couple we had visiting for dinner) came down with what was for me the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had. It made me think about the increased awareness of sanitation in public spaces like retail stores.
Here in Toronto, where we were hard hit by the SARS crisis in 2003, consumers are very conscious of hygiene, and need to feel safe from potential exposure to health risks when outside of their home environments.
An article in the Wall Street Journal from February 15th described a common problem. After washing and drying your hands in a public washroom, how can the washroom door be opened without touching the handle? Sanitgrasp, an small American company based in Atlanta, has a solution that allows the door to be opened by pulling with the forearm.
In retail, there are many locations where germs easily (and frequently) reside. The handles of grocery shopping carts are an obvious one. As I was wandering the aisles of the recent FMI trade show in Las Vegas, I noticed this display.
Disinfecting wipes are made available to shoppers to clean the cart handles - a great idea, highly visible, and inexpensive. A great way for a retailer to demonstrate that they are listening to their shoppers' needs.
Are there other ways that retailers are making their stores cleaner? Please comment.
Graeme Spicer is a Canadian trendspotter, ethnographer and observer of all things retail. As Director of Retail Strategy at DW+Partners he spends his time consulting with leading retailers; presenting at conferences across North America; lecturing at OCAD, Canada's leading design school; and reading too many blogs. Graeme blogs at http://graemespicer.typepad.com.
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There are 5 responses to "Good News for Germaphobes ...".
Why use antibacterial sanitary napkins when you can just use the paper towel you dried your hands with or a bit of tissue from your purse/pocket to grasp the handle?
Then you can just toss that out without having to put more antibacterial stuff into the waste system.
Posted by: Eir at June 4, 2008 8:37 PM
In response to Eir's comment: Not all restrooms make use of paper towels. Many make use of air dryers.
Posted by: CDS at June 17, 2008 5:22 AM
it seems the whole world is slowly but surly becoming a nutcase. for those who feel unsafe to touch a door which has been touched by somebody else before should rather stay at home and lock there self in to be isolated from any germs. ridiculous....
Posted by: chris at June 17, 2008 11:25 PM
There was another company mentioned on Donny Deutch that came up with a hook of some sort that you keep on your key chain. You just hook it around the handle and open it.
Posted by: Shanda at June 18, 2008 1:17 PM
People poo-poo certain things until they are hit with something as the result of a community acquired bacteria. With the summer coming and picnics about to get into full swing, the way people handle ice is an issue. The "Clarity" tong-free ice bucket is designed so that there is never a need for utensils or the hands to touch the ice. Enhanced health for everyone.
Posted by: Lisa Miller at March 14, 2009 2:40 PM
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