Accessibility

Petalby aims to make petalby.com usable whatever ability or technology you browse with. We work to WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility. We are not independently audited against it, and we would rather say so than imply a certificate we do not hold.

In practice, this means we design and build with:

• Screen reader compatibility — clear, semantic page structure and descriptive alternative text for images
• Keyboard navigation — menus, product selection and checkout operable without a mouse
• Colour and contrast — text and interactive elements checked for sufficient contrast against their backgrounds
• Readable, resizable text — content remains legible when browser text size is increased
• Clear focus states — so keyboard users can always see where they are on the page

Saying "we work to a standard" is cheap, so here is the testing as it really runs. Every release is checked by two automated audits before it can go live: an axe-core accessibility scan of four representative page templates — the home page, a mystery gift page, a product page from the range, and the Spa department — which blocks the release on any individual violation it finds, and a Lighthouse audit that blocks the release if the accessibility score falls below 95. Automated checks do not catch everything a person using assistive technology would meet, and we do not claim they do.

Two findings from our own audits are registered and open rather than fixed, and we would rather list them than hide them:

• Contrast of muted text. Some quieter text — small labels and notes on tinted backgrounds — does not meet the 4.5:1 contrast ratio. It is a property of the brand's colour palette across the site, and fixing it properly is a design decision being taken, not a patch
• The announcement bar. The thin bar at the very top of each page sits outside the page's landmark structure, so screen reader users navigating by landmark can pass it by

Both are printed in every audit run so they cannot be quietly forgotten. When either is resolved, it comes off this list.

Accessibility isn't a box we tick once. As we add pages and features we test them against the same standard, and we welcome being told when we've fallen short — because we will, occasionally, and we'd rather know.

If you have difficulty using this website, or there is something specific that would make it easier, email info@petalby.com and tell us what happened and what you were using. We reply to every message personally, and we will tell you what we can fix and when we cannot.