In a bid to keep our members’ spirits up (and our own!), we’ve been researching the web for the best examples of organisations who’ve gone the extra mile to do their part in supporting the community. While promotion may come to mind first, we’ve seen initiatives around the country that involves various elements of the marketing mix.
We will update this page regularly, if you’d like to suggest an initiative or see your organisation included please email editor@mii.ie with a link.
We’re all in this together, so let’s keep making great marketing!
Product
Ramping up production of hand sanitiser
Distilleries around the world and in Ireland have made a dramatic change to their activities and started producing hand sanitisers for the healthcare system, charities and the community.
Diageo is donating up to two million litres of alcohol to hand sanitiser producers in multiple countries (500,000 across the UK and Ireland), which will enable the production of over eight million bottles of hand sanitiser.
Diageo pledges more than eight million bottles of sanitiser for frontline healthcare workers, Diageo.com
Irish Distillers is partnering with Mervue Laboratories in Cork to provide large quantities of hand sanitisers to hospitals and healthcare professionals
Irish Distillers deliver 50,000 bottles of hand sanitiser to the HSE, Irish Examiner
Other distilleries which will produce hand sanitiser include The Shed Distillery (supplying alcohol to Ovelle Pharmaceuticals) and Clonakilty Distillery (offering hand sanitiser for free to local charities)
Irish distilleries step up production of hand sanitiser gel, RTE
Kerry Group is joining forces with distilleries and offering them enzymes to help ramp up the production of alcohol that will be used in the making of hand sanitiser
Kerry enzymes help ramp up hand sanitisers for HSE, Irish Times
3D printers & textile firms switch to producing medical equipment and scrubs
Irish 3D printing companies are using their expertise to create products that are much needed by health workers, including personal protective equipment (Calt Dynamics), ventilators (open source project started by Colin Keogh of UCD), respirator parts (Galway Technology Ltd).
Irish 3D-printing firm to produce visors to meet Covid-19 shortfall, Irish examiner
Irish create 3D printed ventilators to fight COVID-19 pandemic, Irish Central
Galway start-up offering to 3D print medical components, RTE
A number of textile businesses have converted to the production of scrubs for health workers, including O’Neills Sportwear and Moville Clothing
Donegal business swaps shirts for scrubs amid Covid-19, RTE
Sportswear company O’Neills to make hospital scrubs, Irish Times
Airlines to the rescue
While airlines are being dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, they have been playing a crucial role in bringing stranded citizens home and transporting vital supplies.
Aer Lingus is sending 10 flights to Beijing to collect personal protective equipment for healthcare facilities in Ireland.
Shipment of PPE supplies arrives in Ireland from China, RTE
Ryanair Offers Its Planes For Rescue And Medical Supplies Transport Flights, hospitality ireland
Place
Supermarkets move to protect the vulnerable
The surge to supermarkets after the first measures were announced had people concerned about social distancing and the heightened risk of contracting the virus for the elderly especially. In response to this, many Irish supermarkets were quick to implement shopping hours reserved for elderly customers only.
Dunnes, Lidl and Tesco designate shopping hours for elderly customers, Newstalk
Aldi to recruit more staff and trim opening hours to take pressure off workers, Independent.ie
Price
A time for giving back
Some organisations are offering a free service for healthcare workers. This is the case of The AA, who provide free roadside recovery service for healthcare workers and the elderly, and of The Choice Hotel Group who offered 1,800 stays to healthcare workers. Many food companies are also sending free meals and snacks to frontline workers, including Dublin Meat Company and Fulfil. As retailers are also under a lot of pressure, xSellco is making its helpdesk software free for six months, to help retailers move online.
Covid-19: Can motor industry steer way through crisis? Irish Times
Irish hotel group gives away €250,000 worth of stays to healthcare workers, Independent.ie
Dublin Meat Company Donates 1,500 Meals To Frontline Staff, Checkout
xSellco’s AI-powered helpdesk ‘eDesk’ is now free for 6 months to help retailers move online
An impressive number of organisations in education, culture, sport and other sectors are making resources available for free during the pandemic. NUIG student Shane Hastings did a great job of compiling them on a website:
https://covid19.shanehastings.eu/giveback/
Promotion
Breaking through the noise
The HSE has rolled out a nationwide integrated awareness campaign to provide information about COVID-19, its symptoms and what we can all do to slow its spread.
HSE Steps Up Awareness Campaign as COVID-19 Spreads to Six Continents, Newstalk
In times when communications have never been so important, brands and agencies are rising to the challenge and using one of their greatest strength – creativity – to convey crucial messages such as the importance of social distancing, and encourage people to connect in new ways.
#CreateDontContaminate call to young people over Covid-19, RTE
Brennans Bread Asks The Nation To Raise A Toast in New Campaign, Adworld
Family Friendly HQ Launches 30 Days of Family Fun with #FamilyFun30, Family Friendly HQ
People
Looking after staff and helping the community
The current situation is shining a light on people in various professions who are proving vital to the functioning of the country. As they put their lives at risk by being on the frontline, it is their employer’s responsibility to ensure that they are safe and taken care of. Companies who look after their employees during this crisis, and those who make a real difference helping the community, deserve our praise.
Supervalu, Centra And GAA ‘Club Together’ To Help Vulnerable And Elderly, 98FM
Aldi rewards staff for coronavirus efforts with 10% bonus, The Journal
Process
What can we do differently?
The COVID-19 outbreak is forcing organisations to change the way they do business. And some companies are standing out by changing processes in ways that benefit others.
Aldi Fast-Tracks Payment For Over 200 Of Its Irish Suppliers, Checkout
Bonus: one we love from abroad
Free accommodation for healthcare workers
In France, hotel group Accor has created a centralised platform to cater for medical staff housing needs, and is working with the government to offer up to 2,000 beds for the homeless. Airbnb is also launching a platform to host medical staff and social workers for free, with each host receiving €50 when participating.
France’s Accor, Airbnb help provide rooms for medics during crisis, Irish Times
