Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ for autistic and neurodiverse customers shopping in its stores across the UK.
Supermarket shopping isn’t always the most pleasant or manageable of experiences for everyone, especially for those who are autistic or neurodivergent – with bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells, and crowds of people making it a rather overwhelming and overstimulating atmosphere.
This is why Morrisons has decided to collaborate with the National Autistic Society to introduce dedicated ‘Sensory Support Boxes’ at its stores nationwide, as a way to both mark World Autism Acceptance Month, and help autistic and neurodivergent customers have the positive shopping experience they deserve.
Image: Morrisons
These boxes have been carefully-developed in consultation with the National Autistic Society to ensure they include the most helpful items.
A range of toys like fidget balls, spinners, and squish mats can all be found inside the boxes – which will be eventually be available in all 500 Morrisons supermarkets by May – to help encourage calmness and focus.
All that customers wishing to access the items need to do is simply speak to a colleague at the customer service kiosk of their local Morrisons store.
More than one in 100 people are autistic, and there are 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Image: Morrisons
Speaking on the decision to introduce the Sensory Support Boxes into UK stores, Joseph Clark-Bland, who is the Community Manager at Morrisons, said: “It’s a priority for us to ensure all Morrisons customers feel welcomed and understood.
“We’re proud to be leading the way in creating a more inclusive shopping environment for autistic people, their families and all neurodivergent people across the UK.
“World Autism Acceptance Month has been a key moment for Morrisons for many years, and we look forward to supporting even more customers via our new Sensory Boxes.”
The introduction of the Sensory Support Boxes comes after Morrisons first trialled a ‘Quieter Hour’ in some of its stores back in 2018, before rolling it out nationwide in 2024 due to its successful and positive feedback.
Featured Image – Morrisons
Shopping
A massive Le Creuset factory sale is coming to Yorkshire next month
Le Creuset will be bringing its biggest-ever in-person event to Yorkshire next month, offering massive discounts on its hit cookware pieces.
The Factory to Table Sale will be heading to Harrogate, filled with all of Le Creuset's most popular items, from salt and pepper grinders to casserole dishes.
And they've said that the sale will include some rare colours, unusual shapes, and pieces you won’t typically find in the brand’s UK boutiques and outlets.
Taking over the Great Yorkshire Events Centre from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September, there'll be loads of Le Creuset cookware for up to half price.
And this isn’t just any old warehouse clear-out. The event is billed as Le Creuset UK’s biggest-ever in-person event, with more cast iron cookware on offer than ever before.
Expect plenty of the brand’s instantly recognisable pieces, alongside limited-edition colours and harder-to-find designs.
The biggest-ever in-person Le Creuset event is coming to Yorkshire. Credit: Fever
Among the tempting finds are seasonal favourites including the pumpkin and petal casseroles, making this one for anyone who likes their kitchenware to be as decorative as it is practical.
The sale takes place across three days at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, as follows:
Friday 25 September - 9.45am–7pm, with last entry at 6.15pm
Saturday 26 September - 9am–6pm, with last entry at 5.15pm
Sunday 27 September - 9am–5.30pm, with last entry at 4.45pm
Tickets are allocated to pre-booked time slots, and under-16s will need to be accompanied by an adult.
The catch? Tickets haven’t gone on general sale yet. You can join the waitlist nowfor exclusive presale access, giving you the chance to get in before the wider public.
So, if your kitchen has been crying out for a new Dutch oven, or you simply enjoy the thrill of finding a bargain in a very attractive shade of red, Harrogate might be worth the trip this September.
IKEA to launch its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture
Emily Sergeant
IKEA will be launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture.
Just like the ever-popular Facebook Marktplace, the IKEA second-hand marketplace is a dedicated space where pre-loved IKEA products can find a new home.
In bid to make affordable second-hand home furnishings easily accessible, the new online platform will enable customers across the UK to connect with one another directly, so they can buy and sell pre-owned IKEA items locally.
Designed specifically for IKEA products, the marketplace will provide everything shoppers need in one place.
The Swedish retailer is already known and loved for its 'functional' and 'affordable' home furnishings, all produced with care for people and the environment, but the launch of the new IKEA second-hand market place will make it just as easy to pass on an old favourite as it is to find a new one.
IKEA is launching its own online marketplace full of second-hand furniture / Credit: Supplied
"At IKEA, we are always looking for new ways to make life at home even better and help our customers discover products they love," a spokesperson for the retailer said.
"With the launch of IKEA second-hand marketplace in the UK, we’re taking a meaningful step toward creating a destination that simplifies access to pre-owned IKEA furniture.
"Our goal is to make passing on beloved IKEA pieces as seamless as possible.
"We’re creating a trusted and vibrant space to make it quick and easy for our IKEA Family members to trade directly with one another. We want the process for buying and selling pre-owned IKEA products to be simple, accessible and rewarding."
Detailed information regarding the official launch and how customers can get involved will be made available in the coming months.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd April 2025 
