The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round...

[eileen]

Originally Posted by Robbie S

...to bring this issue into sharper focus, where do you stand with the American with Disabilities Act, requiring you to build ramps, increase the size of rooms, and make special bathroom concessions? Is it a good thing? It is afterall, the legislative application of the sympathy you're expressing.

Just how far does your sympathy for the handicapped go?

we spent over 10k additional planned for our salon to put in two handicap accessible restrooms for male and female. even though the space we were leasing had 800 sq ft of office space for my computer business that wasn't designated to the salon it took us over the requirement to have 2 restrooms. i took it two steps further i made two of our tanning rooms handicap accessible. room 8 is large enough for a wheel chair to make a complete turn. room 2 has a bed that is low to the ground with an oversized step to get into it. are they used much...no. however, i do have clients that use these rooms. some are from sports injuries and they tan with a leg brace on (i worry about the acrylics but they've never caused damage yet!). one lady has a prosterior (sp?) leg and uses the bed that's low to the ground and easy to get into, she was one of my top customers before the company she worked for closed down. i have another guy that comes in on occasion to use room 8 with his girlfriend and he's in a wheelchair.

[eileen]

I've never seen the bathroom get used yet though! lol

[eileen]

i actually like how we've turned this into a productive thread to. i am getting a kick out of you and belvy's flame wars to. lol

i'm curious what do you think of this, i was going to ask one of my handicap tanners to be in one of our ads. to me if we built a place they can access maybe we're missing a market to further welcome them into our salons.

[allenandtonya]

guess he's speechless... for once. and i'm new here.

[Robbie S]

speechless? ...because I didn't reply within 15 minutes? watch yourself newbie.

Eileen...I hate the idea of using a handicapped customer for your ad, largely because it's so distasteful, but secondarily, because these people don't really represent an untapped market for tanning. It’s a pure sympathy play.

So, I’m not sure you answered…can I count on your support to enact more legislation that can help level the playing field for those less fortunate than ourselves?

[eileen]

yes, the company my husband worked for was very aggressive in making arrangements to have jobs available to the handicapped within their company. one big fear locally was that this hard work would go unnoticed by bank of america when they took over. i've heard they actually kept most of the plans in place...including transportation to and from work for them.

[eileen]

Originally Posted by Robbie S

speechless? ...because I didn't reply within 15 minutes? watch yourself newbie.

Eileen...I hate the idea of using a handicapped customer for your ad, largely because it's so distasteful, but secondarily, because these people don't really represent an untapped market for tanning. It’s a pure sympathy play.

So, I’m not sure you answered…can I count on your support to enact more legislation that can help level the playing field for those less fortunate than ourselves?

How is it distasteful? I don't understand. Why would it be a sympathy play if they are paying customers and change your bottom line?

[allenandtonya]

watch myself? you've got to be kidding! ever heard of anger management classes? have someone look up the # for you.

[eileen]

Here's a good read from the NYT.

Nordstrom, the Seattle-based department store chain, and Target Stores, the discount store division of the Dayton Hudson Corporation, pioneered the use of advertisements with disabled models more than a year ago. Other retailers have followed, including the Kmart Corporation and Eddie Bauer.
Nordstrom and Target executives say they have found the move to be good business.
"There are 43 million Americans out there with disabilities and they are a customer base," said Target's communications director, Gail Dorn. "From a business point of view, it has absolutely paid off. We are going after the disabled market."
For disabled consumers, the trend is welcome.
"Retailers have come a long way now with oversized models and ethnic models," said Shannon Bloedel of Seattle, a member of the American Disabled Olympics ski team. "They should have done all this 20 years ago."

[Robbie S]

allen and tonya...aka 'ant'...you'll be needing those classes if you play with me