design:retail - May/June 2020 - 8

DESIGN:RETAIL

Retail Steps Up
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BRANDS AND
COMPANIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE
By Michelle M. Havich

S T H E C O V I D - 1 9 PA N D E M I C forced retailers (and everyone else) to close, the
members of the retail design industry got to work-creating, making,
donating and helping their communities. From making and donating
safety equipment, to creating websites to keep the
world engaged, this industry really showed us all
how awesome it is (we already knew!). Here is a
small selection of the good news that the retail design industry generated over the past few months.
We know you will all keep up the great work, and
we can't wait until we can all be together again.

The Makers
Retailers such as Gap Inc., Eddie Bauer and
Brooks Brothers converted their factories to make
personal protection equipment (PPE) items, including masks, gowns and scrubs for health care
workers, police and firefighters. Nike made face
shields to support doctors.

The Donors
Other retail industry companies worked to
collect and donate money, supplies and services.
Those companies include:
* FutureProof Retail donated its Mobile Checkout Solution to essential retail entities.
* WAC Lighting donated 500,000 surgical
masks to U.S. hospitals.
* Staples U.S. Retail partnered with Children's
Miracle Network Hospitals to collect PPE and
donations to help local hospitals.
* UGG and Deckers Brands launched the
Better Together initiative to donate more

than $1 million to COVID-19 pandemic relief
through monetary and product donations.
* Canadian Tire donated $5 million to healthcare and community workers.
* Harry's donated $1 million in shaving supplies to medical workers.
* WHP Global donated 100,000 masks, and
helped to donate 2,000 meals to health-care
workers through its brand Joseph Abbound.
* IKEA Retail U.S. donated $1.6 million worth
of product and supplies toward relief efforts.
* RetailersUnited was formed to source and
distribute PPE.

The Doers
Then there were the companies and organizations who did little and big things to help out
consumers and the retail industry.
eBay launched "Up & Running" to bring small
businesses online, while Neighborhood Goods
introduced "The Commons by Neighborhood
Goods" to provide a free platform for brands, restaurateurs, musicians and artists. Kroger created
"Sharing What We've Learned: A Blueprint for
Businesses," and ZenGenius created a checklist for
reopening retailers.
For the design industry, organizations and companies are hosting online classes, webinars and
programs, including design:retail, RetailX, ASID,
Sherwin-Williams, Tarkett, IIDA and PAVE, among
many others.

To help out consumers, toy companies Mattel
and Hasbro both launched online activity sites
for parents and kids, which included games
and activities.
Doordash started delivering grocery goods from
convenience stores, while Panera launched Panera
Grocery, a new service that enabled guests to
purchase pantry items along with a Panera food
order. Kroger converted a Cincinnati store to pickup
only. Tractor Supply expanded same-day delivery to
include all 1,863 locations, and Sprouts Farmers

MAY/JUNE 2020

Neiman Marcus and David's Bridal both partnered with Joann Stores to make PPE as well,
including non-surgical masks for hospital systems and senior living facilities. Index (owner of
Zara and Bershka) turned over its supply chains
to produce PPE in its native Spain, while Room &
Board worked with a variety of its manufacturing
partners to make PPE for donation. Designtex
partnered with West Elm to turn bedding into at
least 13,000 cotton face masks.
Mannequin company Fusion launched Project
Covid Halo to make face shields for medical workers, while True Value Co. produced hand sanitizer.
Other companies that are looking ahead
and making physical shields and safety barriers
for stores and offices include IDL, MORGAN Li,
IVC, idX Corp., Matrix Frame, HMI Cardinal,
Artitalia Group Inc. and Voila! Creative Studio.
INOX developed an antimicrobial coating for its
line of stainless-steel products, including commercial and residential door levers and pulls.

Market expanded grocery pickup to 46 stores.
Michaels rolled out contactless, same-day delivery at select locations, and partnered with UPS
to launch contactless curbside pickup and return
drop-offs at Michaels locations. Kimco Reality
announced it is making curbside pickup a permanent feature at its shopping centers.
And, both Kroger Health and CVS Health are
operating COVID-19 testing sites.
The retail design industry has shown that even
in the face of something as catastrophic as a worldwide pandemic, it is still here, helping out both
consumers and fellow workers. Thank you to all of
you for all that you are doing. We are proud to be a
part of such an amazing industry!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ADOBE STOCK

HAPPENINGS

design:retail - May/June 2020

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