Shoppers Banned From Booths
32-month compliance overhaul adds 8-foot ramps to some booths, but most get barriers, potentially slashing vendor sales
The Christmas Village in Center City will no longer allow shoppers to enter booths due to ADA compliance, with sales counters and barriers to be added instead. This change is necessary to ensure the monthlong holiday event at Dilworth and LOVE parks is compliant with the Americans with Disability Act.
According to Thomas Bauer, CEO of German American Marketing, each booth would need an 8-foot-long ramp to allow shoppers to enter. However, this option is only feasible for a few wider booths along City Hall. As a result, most booths will have sales counters and barriers added, making them inaccessible to shoppers.
German American Marketing spent 32 months working with legal experts, the city, and disability rights advocates ahead of this decision. The company is not thrilled with the change, but it is necessary to ensure compliance with the ADA. Vendors will have to adapt to the new layout, which may affect sales. Some vendors may need to add additional staff or anticipate lower sales.
Vendor contracts for this year's market have already been signed, and many vendors have already paid the fee, which ranges from $8,500 to $16,500. The new layout may require vendors to adjust their sales strategies and customer service approaches.
## Why it matters The change in layout is significant, as it may impact the shopping experience and sales for vendors. The Christmas Village and Made in Philadelphia markets are popular holiday events, and the new layout may affect the overall atmosphere and customer engagement. However, the change is necessary to ensure that the event is accessible and compliant with the ADA, which is essential for providing equal access to all visitors.
The decision to add sales counters and barriers instead of ramps is likely to be a permanent solution, as German American Marketing has already invested significant time and resources into ensuring ADA compliance. As the holiday season approaches, vendors and shoppers will have to adapt to the new layout, which may take some time to get used to.
## What happens next As the Christmas Village and Made in Philadelphia markets prepare to open, vendors will need to adjust to the new layout and find ways to minimize the potential impact on sales. The event organizers will also need to ensure that the new layout is effective in providing equal access to all visitors, while also maintaining the overall shopping experience and atmosphere of the event.
