Now, every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the quiet hour shopping center offers to turn off the music in its gallery commercial and dim the lights in its stores to immerse this space in the greatest silence. The idea: power welcoming people with autistic disorder or misophonia.
_It makes us much more zen
Already democratized in several stores, this initiative is also profitable for many Touraineers, in search of calm and appeasement. “It makes us much more zen, especially since in these difficult times, we are much more responsive to what is around. A little zenitude feels good, and especially to hear yourself speak“, insists Sylvie, who came from Loir-et-Cher especially to shop in silence.
An unbearable ambient noise for some visitors
No more microphone announcements, or unwanted music, only the sound of the fountain and passers-by resonate in the heart of the shopping center. A moment which is also very appreciable for Marilène, for whom the ambient noise had become unbearable in the stores. ” Several times I have walked into shops and told them the music was too loud. It’s something that gets really mind-numbing and tiring. We can no longer concentrate, and when we are old it gets even worse“.
34 out of 54 businesses are participating in the operation
As for the merchants, cutting the music for two hours is something unusual or even surprising, as François explains, he is the manager of the Shoes It store. ” Us from opening until closing, it’s light and music almost 24 hours a day. So cutting two hours in the middle of the day is a change of habit. It feels weird, but it’s fun“, says the seller.
Carrefour and Super-U as pioneers
In total, 34 out of the 53 businesses in the quiet hour are participating in this operation. An operation already in place in many other brands, in particular in mass distribution. Carrefour stores in the department offer a silent hour every Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., the same for the Super U in Joué-lès-Tours on Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
It should be extended to a day
This initiative is a very good point for Nicolas Guillin, leader of the mutual aid group for autistic people in Tours. Even if two hours in the day is not yet enough. ” when there is too much light and sound, the person with autistic disorder will be completely confused, it can lead to seizures. The majority of patients will therefore flee these places. So that it is reassuring and that there is no calculation to do, it would have to be extended to one day“, suggests the host. For now, the time slot at Quiet Hour will remain weekly and last two hours.