Love in the time of coronavirus
Welcome to Duty Calls. This regular feature aims to shine a light on some of the most laudable examples of altruism and sustainability within the travel retail industry by companies that go beyond the call of duty. In this special edition we look at how companies have reacted to the COVID-19 outbreak with acts of kindness, human spirit and generosity.
Whyte & Mackay walks the walk of Corporate Social Responsibility
The Whyte & Mackay team have embarked on a 46,625.7 km cycling journey to raise funds for mental health charities around the world.
The company said: “We recognise that people have been coping with extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the importance of mental health in the current unprecedented crisis.
“Our 500+ strong family have decided to set ourselves a challenge of walking/running/cycling virtually around the world to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities around the world. We welcome you to follow our journey for the next two months… and support us in any way possible.
In the UK, Whyte & Mackay is supporting the Scottish Association of Mental Health via a direct fundraising page on JustGiving.com
The company has also set up a separate fundraising page to collect donations and share across charities in other countries where they are not affiliated to JustGiving including: Canadian Mental Health Association; Mental Health America (US); The Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation (based in Taipei); The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong; Al Jalila Foundation (UAE); The South African Federation of Mental Health.
Singapore Airlines introduces ‘KrisPay It Forward’ CSR campaign
Singapore Airlines has supported 100,000 key workers through its ‘KrisPay It Forward’ CSR Campaign, which encouraged KrisFlyer members to donate their miles.
The KrisPay It Forward campaign ran to 15 July and was part of Singapore Airlines’s wider #SIACares initiative. Its aim was to fund 50,000 treats for workers from member donations, which Singapore Airlines would match with a further 50,000.
Each donation of 450 KrisPay miles (equivalent to S$3) goes towards the purchase of one treat. The treats include a samosa set, a muffin and bun set, a milk tea or green tea set, a doughnut set and a curry puff set.
The treats will be sponsored by KrisPay partners Anglo Indian Café and Bar, Cedele, Gong Cha, Krispy Crème, Polar Puffs & Cakes and Sakunthala’s Food Palace. They will be delivered to the recipients once the 50,000-treat target is reached.
“This initiative provides a platform for KrisFlyer members to show their support for front liners, and as well as many of the unsung heroes in our community,” said KrisFlyer Acting Senior Vice President Marketing Planning JoAnn Tan. “This is our small way of thanking them by giving them a well-deserved treat and giving local businesses a boost at the same time.”
Oribe and Kao Salon Division offer support to the salon community
Kao Salon Division, which owns luxury haircare brand Oribe, has launched the Kao Salon Industry Recovery Initiative to help its salon partners bounce back from the global health crisis.
The programme is comprised of three campaigns designed to address the specific challenges facing the professional hair industry. The three campaigns are called Stronger Together, Creativity Never Stops and Kao Salon Family.
Through the Stronger Together campaign, Kao Salon has committed to suspend invoices until government-imposed closures are lifted and sponsor free-to-industry opportunities. It has also donated haircare products to charitable organisations, public health institutions and key workers.
The Creativity Never Stops campaign provides stylists with online educational programmes; while the Kao Salon Family initiative leverages the company’s network to deliver messages of hope and provide virtual communication tools to connects stylists and salons during these times of crisis.
“Our priority during this crisis has been to galvanise our efforts around the full and complete recovery of the industry as a whole, with special focus our partners and stylists,” commented Kao Salon Division Global President Cory Couts.
“We know the needs and concerns of the salon community are very specific. That’s why we designed this initiative to not only to commit global resources, but local, real solutions for their recovery. We believe in the power of the collective and know that by meeting this incredibly powerful community where they are, and joining them on their journey, together we will grow, rise and create the future.”
React, respond and re-emerge: SK-II steps up COVID-19 response
Japanese luxury skincare company SK-II has ramped up its global response to COVID-19, under a ‘react, respond and re-emerge’ CSR mantra.
According to the company, its approach follows three key pillars: being human, serving not selling, and staying rooted in brand purpose and identity.
React SK-II has teamed up with the China Women’s Development Foundation (CWDF) to donate RMB2 million (US$280,000) worth of personal protective equipment and ventilators to the virus’ original epicentre of Hubei, China.
It also adapted the production capacities of its Shiga Plant in Japan to manufacture over 350,000 face masks for employees, key workers, communities and relief organisations across the country.
Respond The company launched a moving visual campaign starring Japanese National Swimmer Ikee Rikako — in her first public appearance without a wig — after successfully beating leukaemia. It shares her story of hope and resilience and aims to inspire audiences during these difficult times. It also marked the first time in 28 years that an SK-II campaign, featuring a solo female athlete, made the front pages of Japanese newspapers.
Re-Emerge SK-II has also partnered with the China Duty Free Group to launch a new interactive animation called the ‘SK-II Skin Training Camp.’ The experiential animation was launched at the CDF Mall in Haitang Bay during China’s Golden Week holidays. The pop-up gave customers an interactive ‘skin training’ experience and offered personalised skincare consultations to help find the right SK-II products to suit their specific needs.
Walsh Whiskey leads fundraiser to support Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation
Irish drinks company Walsh Whiskey, through its international community of supporters, has raised €16,000 (over US$18,000) to fund 1,000 hours of homecare for at-risk children supported by the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.
Just over a month ago, Walsh Whiskey Founders Bernard and Rosemary Walsh set up a raffle to support the charity. As the prize, they donated their personal collection of all nine vintages of Writers’ Tears Vintage Cask Strength, a super-premium Irish whiskey produced since 2011.
Supporters purchased raffle tickets via Eventbrite and Walsh Whiskey has covered the platform’s fees to ensure the total amount will go towards nursing care for seriously ill children under five years old.
Bernard Walsh said: “Rosemary and I are very grateful to everyone in the wider Walsh Whiskey community that supported these children and their families. The raffle is now concluded, but people who missed it can still donate directly to the Jack & Jill Foundation.”
The Moodie Davitt e-Zine Duty Calls feature highlights environmental and socially responsible initiatives around the globe where people and the planet are the priority. If you have CSR projects, big or small, that you would like featured in Duty Calls, especially those related to tackling the impact of COVID-19, please contact Hannah Tan-Gillies at Hannah@MoodieDavittReport.com
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The Moodie Davitt eZine
Issue 281 | 16 July 2020
The Moodie Davitt eZine is published 12 times per year by The Moodie Davitt Report (Moodie International Ltd). © All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the Publisher. To find out more visit www.moodiedavittreport.com and to subscribe, please e-mail sinead@moodiedavittreport.com