As the coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate the news, many of us have been forced into a new way of living. With remote working now advised and social distancing the current order of the day, weve all had to adjust to new ways of doing things, ensuring that we keep safe and well during this unprecedented situation.
Its an anxious time for us all, not just for businesses, but for people too. And, as we all sit a few steps away from the prospect of a total lockdown, its natural to be asking questions such as how long will it be before this all subsides? and what will the world look like when it does?
So, with the news largely lacking in positivity, its quite useful to read about how some people have used this public health crisis for good. A heartwarming selection of large brands and famous faces have really shown their generosity and kindness during this pandemic, so read on and discover how, even in the darkest of times, we can all cling to hope, optimism and the unfailing strength of the human spirit.
Support for the NHS
The NHS is at the forefront of the ongoing battle with coronavirus, with the numbers of those diagnosed with the illness continuing to escalate on a daily basis. With many of us privileged enough to be able to work from home, we can only imagine what those who work in hospitals and medical facilities around the country, and the world for that matter, must be going through.
To show their appreciation, numerous supermarkets have held special time slots in which these people can complete their food shopping and the producers of Holby City have announced that they will be sending supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS directly from their currently dormant sets. Other food businesses, such as Pret a Manger and Nandos have further helped the cause by offering free food and drink and discounts to these hardworking staff and ex-footballer Gary Neville has temporarily turned two of his hotels into exclusive places of occupation for NHS employees.
Hand sanitiser from unlikely sources
Panic buying notwithstanding, the urgency of the coronavirus pandemic was always going to lead to waning supplies of products such as hand sanitiser. To help address the shortage, LMWH – the owner of Louis Vuitton, Dior and other high fashion brands – announced that they would be using their perfume factories to produce much-needed supplies of disinfectant hand gel instead. It has also pledged to give this away for free to French hospitals and healthcare facilities.
One of our own Kendrick PR skincare clients – Medik8 – are turning over their skincare production to the creation of hand sanitiser gel from the WHO recipe, so philanthropy and brand values in action.
Helping those in need
With supermarkets besieged by stockpilers before the more recent announcements of stricter social distancing, those in need now face an even more uphill battle to get their hands on the essentials. Most supermarket brands have begun to hold special hours at specific times of the day to ensure that the more vulnerable members of society are able to shop in safety and in comfort. Marks and Spencers is one such example of this, and many supermarket delivery services are now prioritising orders put in by those who are more at risk.
Famous donors
Some of the biggest names in fashion have donated large sums of money to hospitals as a way of helping to fund the battle against coronavirus. Among these high-profile donors are Donatella and Allegra Versace, who gave £183,000 to a hospital in Milan and Giorgio Armani, who has sent over $1 billion to medical facilities in Milan and Rome as Italy strives to get to grips with the outbreak in its country.
If the shoe fits
American shoe brand KEEN pledged their support to the coronavirus cause by setting up a footwear donation programme on its website. Designed to help those working on the frontline of the pandemic and the families affected by it, the company has stated that it will send 100,000 free pairs of shoes to people over the course of this crisis. Participants can nominate recipients by visiting the brands website.
What we are doing
At Kendrick PR were beyond saddened to see the impact that COVID-19 is having not just on society, but on our industry, colleagues and clients. Beauty is a significant part of the UK economy, supporting 590k jobs and contributing £28.4 billion to UK GDP in 2018*. In times like these, its unclear how all industries will fare, and no matter how small the measure, we want to support not only the clinics and experts we work with daily, but those of you that need help or guidance in navigating this new landscape.
We are therefore opening up access to the Issues Management How-To module from our ELITE reputation programme FOR FREE. If youd like some additional advice on practical issues management and communications protocols during this time, please get in touch with julia@kendrickpr.uk for access.
One size doesnt always fit all, so if you would prefer, we are offering x3 FREE 30-minute consultancy sessions with founder Julia Kendrick each day. If youre a brand, a clinic or small business who needs a little personalised or strategic comms advice around this time – no matter how small – wed love for you to get in touch. Lets all help each other and keep our industry thriving! ??????
Stay safe
With advice around coronavirus and what we can all do to halt its spread changing on a daily basis, make sure you take steps to follow this guidance as completely as you can. Lets take each day as it comes and do what we can to contribute to beating this pandemic. Stay positive. Stay safe!