Released: 14 December 2006
Retailers and service providers flock to join register before Christmas
Major companies are joining the Nationwide Access Register in the run up to Christmas – all looking to benefit from the increased customer traffic during the holiday and sales seasons.
Shops and service providers who have committed to advertise on the register over the last month include:
- The Nationwide Building Society
- Greene King
- Dolland & Aitchison
- Habitat
- Suits You*
- Chester Barrie*
- Woodhouse*
- Racing Green*
- Tyne and Wear Museums
- Northampton Police
- Lothian and Borders Police
These companies have joined hot on the heels of London Underground, The Metropolitan Police, Leicestershire Police and Mothercare, all of who have also signed up in the last quarter.
Companies advertising themselves through the register (www.directenquiries.com) are using the UK’s number one tool for marketing to disabled people and parents with pushchairs, prams and buggies. With over 1.5 million hits per month and nationwide coverage it is the website most used by people seeking accessible buildings.
Direct Enquiries chief executive, Grant Kennedy: “We are delighted companies are starting to realise that improving access and communicating to people with specific access requirements is not just a legislative issue, it also has real commercial benefit.”
“As ‘the high street’ becomes more accessible and businesses are starting to communicate the access they have, disabled people, parents with pushchairs and others requiring specific access are given greater choice. Those organisations providing the right services are benefiting from the custom of this substantial sector of the market place. Registering with us gives companies a direct route to this market, potentially opening their doors to the billions of pounds spent each year.”
Direct Enquiries helps organisations meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, through communication, a range of tools, assessments and an action plan.
*These companies are part of The Speciality Retail Group.
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Notes to Editors
directenquiries.com, was developed as the Nationwide Disabled Access Register in 2002 in partnership with RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) and The Employers' Forum on Disability. During the past 12 months the information available has grown to include access for parents with pushchairs as well as the general public. This allowed directenquiries.com to rebrand as The Nationwide Access Register in January 2006.
Directenquiries.com is the only Nationwide Access Register specifically designed for companies to showcase their disabled access and other facilities. On average, directenquiries.com receives over 1.3 million hits each month from people looking for businesses, organisations and services with the disabled access they require. Registration is only £35 per year, per location, for which companies receive the following:
- Nationwide registration on directenquiries.com detailing company name, address and other contact details, including links to their website, should they have one
- Access to the Action Plan
- A “More Information” section, equivalent to five pages of A4, updateable on a daily basis. This allows businesses to include information on forthcoming additions or changes to their disabled access as well as useful information about their business in general
- Feedback facility providing customer comments and opinion
For users, directenquiries.com provides a full directory service for UK companies detailing the access and facilities available at those registered with directenquiries.com. The register currently includes disabled access information on leading high street names such as Boots, LloydsTSB, Argos, Gap, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Costa Coffee, Pizza Express, PC World and Waterstone’s as well as thousands of small and independent businesses. The disabled access information encompasses everything from parking, entrances, lifts, toilets, counter heights, wheelchair and pushchair access to staff assistance and auxiliary aids such as Braille, large print and induction loops.
For further information, images and interviews please contact us on 01344 360101 or e-mail press@directenquiries.com
www.directenquiries.com