{"id":596652,"date":"2026-04-09T23:07:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T23:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/596652\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T23:07:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T23:07:21","slug":"aussie-chemist-praised-for-unusual-shopping-basket-policy-wish-it-was-in-every-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/596652\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie chemist praised for unusual shopping basket policy: ‘Wish it was in every store’"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Aussie pharmacy and health food chain has been praised for introducing colour-coded shopping baskets<\/a>, but other retailers have been warned<\/a> about following suit.<\/p>\n

Customers walking into select WholeLife stores can use a grey basket if they’re happy to shop without interruption<\/a>, or a green basket if they require assistance from staff.<\/p>\n

It’s ideal for those who don’t want to be approached by staff members<\/a> while browsing the aisles.<\/p>\n

Damian Young, CEO of WholeLife, told Yahoo Lifestyle the system was designed with customer needs in mind.<\/p>\n

“We know that every one of our customers shops differently and that is why we introduced our dual basket system,” he said.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

“With over 12,000 pharmacy, health foods, natural beauty, vitamins, supplements and much more under the one roof, this provides our customers a more comfortable, personalised experience from the moment they walk in store.”<\/p>\n

WholeLife has 21 pharmacy and health food stores spread across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and WA.<\/p>\n

The company didn’t confirm with Yahoo Lifestyle how many stores had these baskets deployed.<\/p>\n

But the “clever” strategy was celebrated by many Aussies who preferred to shop without being stopped.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share? Contact au.lifestyle.ent@yahooinc.com<\/a><\/p>\n

“I just think it’s neat. My Millennial brain heaved a sigh of relief when I walked in to a store this week and saw these – I now wish every single store had this system,” one said.<\/p>\n

“I wish this was in every shop!” one wrote.<\/p>\n

“That\u2019s a really good idea,” another declared.<\/p>\n

“I wish more grocery stores had this…this would be really helpful when I have to go down to the shops to find stuff and I don\u2019t have a support worker with me because sometimes it\u2019s a lot,” a third added.<\/p>\n

“I can see this benefiting a number of elderly folks as well if they want to do a little shop while picking up a prescription. It\u2019s always nice to have more accessibility,” another said.<\/p>\n

However, others weren’t as convinced, as some people might not even notice the baskets have different meanings.<\/p>\n

“I’m the idiot who would probably get the no help one, realise halfway through shopping I did need help, and have to return to the entrance to swap all my stuff into the other basket,” one said.<\/p>\n

“We all know the types of people who won\u2019t read that, grab the wrong one, and still complain when they do or don\u2019t get help,” another agreed.<\/p>\n

\"Customers<\/p>\n

Customers should use a grey basket if they’re happy to shop without interruption or a green basket if they require assistance from staff. Photo: Reddit<\/p>\n

Should supermarkets and other retailers adopt this?<\/p>\n

While the pharmacy chain had good intentions, consumer behaviour researcher Professor Nitika Garg told Yahoo Lifestyle the strategy could backfire in other retail environments like supermarkets or clothes stores.<\/p>\n

“People like to be perceived as independent, but this doesn’t show that,” Professor Garg warned.<\/p>\n

“For example, elderly people typically don’t want to come across as needing assistance.<\/p>\n

“Some do, but a lot of them don’t. They want to do their chores and go to the shops independently.<\/p>\n

“Sometimes well-intentioned methods or strategies can backfire, and I see that potential with this particular strategy.”<\/p>\n

While some customers wished the strategy was available at bigger retailers, Professor Garg issued a warning to those brands.<\/p>\n

“If bigger retailers do want to implement this, this is absolutely a great plan. But it should be implemented discretely,” she said.<\/p>\n

“But this is one of those strategies which has inadvertent, at least negative consequences for the retailer and consumer.”<\/p>\n

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