Plugged In for the Holidays: Verizon Empowers Downtown D.C.
The holiday season is a time for connection, community, and, of course, shopping. For cities across the U.S., this spirit is captured in the bustling lights and unique offerings of local holiday markets. For 21 years, the Downtown D.C. Holiday Market has been a cherished tradition.
Behind the festive booths and delicious treats lies a crucial, unseen element that keeps the market vibrant and thriving: reliable connectivity.
This year, Verizon Business partnered with the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District (BID) to give the market—and the small businesses it spotlights—the technological backbone needed to succeed.
The Ripple Effect of a Thriving Market
The mission of DowntownDC BID is to make the area a vibrant, inviting, and thriving place. According to Ebony Walton, Director of Marketing and Communications, the Holiday Market is a beloved tradition that creates memories and exposes small businesses to new audiences.
The market's impact creates an incredible ripple effect that extends far beyond its immediate location. Visitors don't just attend the market; they explore the surrounding area, visiting local businesses, theaters, and restaurants, which infuses activity and dollars into the broader community. This economic success is a key component of strengthening the area's community fabric.
Connecting Small Businesses
For the vendors, whether at a holiday market, running a brick-and-mortar location, or building an online business, reliable connectivity is the key to bringing in revenue and running day-to-day operations.
Imagine running a popular food truck like Verizon small business customer, Roaming Coyote. Outside of the market, their business is mobile, and they can’t always depend on finding a strong Wi-Fi connection. For them, having a connected point of sale (POS) system is essential—if it's not working, they lose sales.
Not Just a Partner—A Community Champion
This year, DowntownDC BID wanted to ensure their vendors didn’t have to rely on hotspots. They partnered with Verizon Business to deploy more than 90 Wi-Fi routers across the entire market, eliminating the hotspot gamble and equipping vendors with secure, reliable connectivity.
But the partnership between DowntownDC BID and Verizon is far more than a transactional service, as they sought Verizon Business as a partner who could meet—and exceed—the long-term technological needs essential for their success.
“Without a doubt, Verizon has been a great partner in helping us really be proactive and meet the needs, on so many different levels, of this market,” says Walton.
Verizon Business remains committed to helping small businesses and communities thrive. From the Downtown D.C. Holiday Market to cities nationwide, they're providing the reliable connectivity that powers local success stories.
