ShopRite Launches #EssentialThanks Campaign

This week's The Bright Side of Retail features a curated a collection of positive stories related to how retailers and brands are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Total Retail seeks to inspire its audience in the midst of this crisis by reporting on the positive stories of how retailers and brands are stepping up to help their employees, customers and communities during this challenging time. Even amidst this challenging time for the world, there are still reasons for the retail industry to be proud and have hope. Here are some of them:

• ShopRite has kicked off a campaign to thank the important healthcare workers, first responders and supermarket associates everywhere who are serving their communities during the COVID-19 crisis. The campaign, called Essential Thanks, gives everyone an opportunity to show their gratitude by posting a thank-you note to COVID-19 front-line workers. For each message of thanks people post on ShopRite’s newly created EssentialThanks.com website, the grocer will donate one dollar to regional food banks for COVID-19 relief efforts.
• Michaels, the largest arts-and-crafts retail chain in North America, is launching a month-long initiative to recognize consumers who are crafting, constructing and creating for the greater good during COVID-19. Throughout May, anyone can nominate a Difference Maker by sharing their story on Facebook or Instagram and using the hashtag #differencemakers as well as tagging @MichaelsStores. In addition to celebrating difference makers nationwide, Michaels has donated $1 million worth of fabric – enough to make nearly 750,000 masks – to more than 70 organizations.
•  BHLDN, Anthropologie's wedding brand, will host a giveaway of 100 gowns to brides making a difference in their communities amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. During the "Brides Save Lives Giveaway," 100 brides-to-be will win a BHLDN gown of their choice. The giveaway is open to brides in any of the countless roles supporting our communities during this challenging time, including first responders, caregivers, healthcare providers, workers at local businesses, and those caring for children or family members. Minted Weddings is also teaming up with BHLDN for the giveaway. Each of the 100 gown winners will receive $250 towards the online purchase of wedding stationery.
• Tango, a store lifecycle management and integrated workplace management system solutions provider, has launched its free COVID-19 Retail Location Benchmark Visualization Tool. The free tool allows retailers across more than 70 retail segments to get an at-a-glance view of their exposure compared to industry peers based on store locations in U.S. counties affected by COVID-19. The dashboard provides actionable intelligence by combining disparate data sets and visualizing location-level exposure over time. Armed with these insights, retailers can make informed decisions about where and when to reopen stores.
• SaaS e-commerce platform BigCommerce is collaborating with FedEx to give small and midsize businesses on BigCommerce access to the robust FedEx portfolio of e-commerce solutions and competitive rates. Through this alliance with FedEx, BigCommerce merchants that sign up will receive a number of business advantages, including competitive rates (e.g., discounts up to 40 percent on FedEx Ground and 50 percent on FedEx Express services); enhanced shipping capabilities; and their own FedEx account to leverage the shipping carrier's solutions and services.
• Disney debuted movie character face masks last week, and announced that it plans to donate up to $1 million in profits from the sales of the masks in the U.S. to Medshare, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that delivers medical supplies and equipment to communities around the world. Disney is also donating 1 million face masks to Medshare for children and families in underserved communities across the U.S., the company said. The masks feature characters including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Anna and Elsa, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, The Avengers, and even Baby Yoda.