Germany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisis

All across the world businesses are having to adapt to continue operating under tough lockdown restrictions. So, with this in mind, check out these inventive and rather ingenious solutions that restaurants, individuals and businesses in Germany have established to keep their services running during the current coronavirus pandemic.

The rise of “drive-through” services

Whether it be restaurants, Christmas markets or even Santa himself, people all over Germany have had to adapt their businesses to adhere to the tough coronavirus restrictions that have recently been put in place across the country. Check out some of the ingenious methods entrepreneurs and organisers have initiated to keep their services available.

Christmas continues

In an effort to keep the festive spirit alive across Germany, a number of organisers have modified Christmas markets to allow people to drive through in their cars. One such market in Kalkar, North Rhine-Westphalia, features artificial snow, music and a nativity scene across a 2,5-kilometre stretch. Mulled wine and stew are also offered to visitors. In Bochum, a Christmas market has been set up on a farm where visitors can drive through; each car is offered a package of roast pork, almonds and mulled wine.

To make sure that children were able to visit Santa this year, a local organisation in Rettenberg, Bavaria, organised a drive-through Santa’s Grotto. Families could drive by the grotto where they could speak and receive a present from Mr Claus himself.

The show must go on

A number of festivals and outdoor shows also adapted to a drive-through format this year. Back in the Spring, a drive-through dult (fair) was organised in Landshut, Bavaria. People drove through a marquee which showed photos and videos of previous volksfests and could even buy gingerbread hearts and almonds from their cars. In Ingolstadt, this year’s state garden show was cancelled, so the organisers prepared boxes of flowers, including dahlias, snapdragons and zinnias, for people to drive in and collect.

Aside from garden shows and festivals, circuses and even strip clubs also adapted to allow customers to drive in. Anyone who found themselves around Landshut, in Bavaria, could drive up to a tent in an industrial area and watch as scantily dressed men and women dance around. This was followed by nude models playing music into the early hours. For those who prefer a bit more family-friendly fun, the Paletti youth circus performed in a car park in Manheim. Their show included clowns, acrobats, tightrope walkers and jugglers.

Fast food

Unsurprisingly, a lot of restaurants have adapted to offer drive-through and take-out services. However, a number of other food services have also adapted to accommodate people in their cars. A pastor in Bad Bayersoien in Bavaria offered to consecrate people’s food at Easter via a drive-through. Elsewhere, in Bremerhaven, Lower Saxony, a clever entrepreneur turned a sales van into a drive-through, where people could buy almonds, toffee apples and candyfloss.

In Neumarkt, Bavaria, a company was left with 60.000 kilograms of dumpling dough, which was unable to be delivered due to the coronavirus. The company owners set up a drive-through at its factory and allowed people to collect the dough and even preformed dumplings!

Staying positive

These methods of keeping businesses running are all examples of human ingenuity and serve to show that we can overcome obstacles as long as we stay positive and think outside the box. Maybe there is a lesson we can all learn from these people as we move into Christmas time. Stay safe and have a Merry Christmas people!