Walmart changing morning hours nationwide starting this week

Walmart changing morning hours nationwide starting this week

Walmart is making a change to its morning shopping hours.

Starting Nov. 10, the nation’s largest retailer is bringing back sensory-friendly hours every day from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. local time at all stores across the country. The change appears to be permanent, the company said in a statement “with no planned end date.”

“Earlier this year, we took a step in making shopping in our stores more inclusive for those with sensory disabilities by taking measures to create a less stimulating environment for a couple hours each Saturday,” Walmart said in a blog post from Denise Malloy Deaderick, Senior Vice President and Chief Belonging Officer, Cedric Clark, Executive Vice President, Store Operations, Walmart U.S. and Alvis Washington, Vice President, Retail Brand Experience. “These changes may have seemed small to some, but for others, they transformed the shopping experience. Our biggest piece of feedback? Keep it going.”

READ MORE: Walmart adding sensory-friendly shopping hours nationwide

Sensory-friendly shopping hours were first rolled out in July for a limited time to facilitate parents and students with back-to-school shopping. During special hours,  TVs are changed to a static image, in-store radio is turned off and lighting is lowered.

Walmart said the feedback from the pilot program was “overwhelmingly positive.”

“During these hours, we hope our customers and associates will find the stores to be a little easier on the eyes and ears. These changes are thanks to those who shared their feedback on how their stores could help them feel like they belong,” the executives noted in their post.