We can only get through this crisis together. Retailers, restaurateurs and solo self-employed people around the Berger have also realised this. Joint initiatives are to be used to try to get through this difficult time of the pandemic, for which Head of Economic Affairs Markus Frank has many words of praise: "Together with the Bornheim-Mitte trade association, we have already launched some very successful initiatives to give traders a helping hand. With the Zentren-Kümmer project, which was launched in 2018, the current aim in these difficult times is above all to strengthen the identification of customers with the local shops, in order to create an appetite for contactless shopping in the district.", says Frank.
One of the projects is video portraits of shops with a digital Bembellauf to show the diversity and creativity around the Berger. These videos are currently in the making. In addition, a poster has been created that hangs in many shop windows. It urges us all to "Support your local heros", support local retailers and restaurateurs in these tough times. Margit Martin-Marx, who is the contact person for the Bornheim-Mitte trade association, knows: "The doors may be closed, but many offer online shops or contactless pick-up stations. Have you ever gotten buying advice for pans in the shop around the corner via Facetime?" It's really worth taking a closer look here, as many retailers and restaurateurs have developed creative and passionate ways to be there for their customers and guests even in lockdown.
In the virtual world, Kümmerin Martin-Marx gets support from Pascal Adams. He helps the traders to improve their internet presence and takes care of presenting the offers of the shops online in an attractive way. On its website at http://frankfurt-berger-strasse.de/, the Bornheim-Mitte trade association bundles the tradespeople's offerings and shows how resolutely they respond to the challenges. Here you can find out who offers a pick-up or delivery service and how to pay for the goods ordered. "This is something we should all definitely make use of! We can all make a contribution by shopping locally and making use of what is on offer locally," urges Franz Steul, chairman of the association.
Creativity and cohesion are high on the agenda of the Kümmerer project: the cup from the creative workshop for ceramics "Pintoyo", which can be painted by oneself, goes well with the organic tea from "Teatastic". Such combined offers are to be promoted and placed. The "shop window sharing" at the Bornheim Mitte subway entrance is particularly successful. Due to the centrally located shop window, offers from the side streets can also be marketed well. In addition, Martin-Marx coordinates campaigns in the district, such as the business promotion campaign "Shopping in Frankfurt" or joint special advertisements in the daily newspapers FAZ, FR and FNP.
But there are also plans for the time after the lockdown. So there should be, if the pandemic allows it, according to plans of the Kümmererteams in the summer, a joint flea market of the traders and the longest cocktail bar in Frankfurt. A nice perspective, which makes hope for better times. Markus Frank agrees, and is delighted with the activities and the positive mood they have created: "Within the scope of our possibilities, we want to do everything we can to make strolling and shopping in our district centres fun. This also has a lot to do with quality of stay. After all, the caretaker project is committed to the attractiveness and cleanliness of the neighborhood. Power boxes are beautified together with local artists, clean-up campaigns are carried out with partners such as FES, RMV and Cleanffm, and the vacancy rate of shops is kept in view."
The project has met with great approval from the traders. "I am glad to know that in the trade association in these times of crisis everyone sticks together" says Marlen Richter, owner of the unpacking shop "Die Auffüllerei". For her anniversary raffle, she got great support from other shops within a few hours - and was also able to advertise for her colleagues.
"We want to remain committed to ensuring that it remains colourful around Berger Strasse and that the small shops, restaurants and cafés, the many creative people and the cultural and sporting offerings survive the crisis," says Alexandra von Winning, coordinator of the Lust auf besser leben initiative. And everyone agrees on that.
If you too would like to support the retail and gastronomy around the Berger, then take a look at the offers at: http://frankfurt-berger-strasse.de/
