Positive Partnerships

We have often talked about the fact that at TMC we like to work with like-minded people, looking to collaborate with Positive Partners to build brands with lasting impact; brands that aren’t just defined by profit but by their impact on the world.

And never has the idea of positive brands been so important than now. In the midst of a global pandemic, how employers and companies react in these unprecedented times really shows who they are as a brand. So, it doesn’t surprise us to see so many of our Brand Partners stepping up to the plate without hesitation and doing what they can to give back and support their communities.

Here is a little overview of what just some of our Positive Brand Partners have been doing during lockdown…

Planet Organic

Planet Organic, the UK’s largest fully certified organic supermarket and TMC’s long-term Brand Partner, have been helping where they can by supporting two very relevant charities. The Drive Forward Foundation helps and supports care leavers to achieve their full potential with sustainable employment opportunities, while Made In Hackney, is a local Community Food Kitchen, who believes everyone should have access to healthy food. The latter charity received £1000 in donations just in the first week of lockdown from Planet Organic customers after the supermarket shared the charity’s appeal via their social media and newsletter. With the donations still coming in, it is truly inspirational and a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together.

From a business perspective, Planet Organic are supporting their brand partners as much as possible by collaborating on content and helping businesses navigate this crisis. For their customers they have been putting in long hours to keep the majority of their stores open, their shelves stocked and social distancing measures in place. Their online shop has been working hard to get as many deliveries out as possible and they have even put in place a way that local vulnerable customers can bypass the waiting list to order online to make sure that they are taken care of first.

And it isn’t just the staff on the shop floor that has been working hard but the team behind the scenes have been creating some great content around supplement regimes, workout diets, sleep routines and even offering up lockdown literature suggestions. On their social media they have been sharing recipes, everything from how to make the perfect coffee to making your own Kombucha.

Yogamatters

The UK’s largest independent Yoga, Pilates and Activewear retailer, Yogamatters has been offering online resources with everything from meditation, tips and ideas for wellness for the whole family, live Instagram classes, to sharing techniques to help followers develop their yoga practices.

Having been part of the yoga and pilates community for almost 25 years, Yogamatters have made sure they are doing all they can to support small studios and individual teachers with a directory on their website of online classes. Promoting the array of different yoga, meditation and pilates offerings, they have created a platform where businesses can advertise their classes for free to the Yogamatters’ community.

Yogamatters has also chosen to support the charity work of Calm Zone, NHS Charities Together and Women’s Aid by offering Yogamatters customers the opportunity to donate to these three very relevant charities at the checkout on their website.

Brindisa

Brindisa, the London-based restaurant group and supplier of Spanish foods have, like all the hospitality industry, had to close their six restaurants for the time being. However, managing to keep their food shops open, they have been working hard to help customers navigate the new social distancing rules in their shops, while also fulfilling online deliveries. And just as importantly they have been supporting their dedicated staff throughout this difficult and worrying time.

And for those loyal customers and fans of true Spanish food, who have been missing their authentic dishes, Brindisa has been showing that sharing is caring! Posting video recipes of some of their tasty dishes, they have also been collaborating with guest chefs who have been taking over their instagram to show what delicious dishes can be conjured up with Brindisa ingredients.

TMC has even collaborated with Brindisa to create some fun and free downloadable colouring sheets for kids and adults alike. We used their latest brand illustrations from the one-off artworks that TMC created for the launch of their Borough Market venue, Brindisa Kitchen Bar, to offer up a bit of light relief.

And as well as shopping online or in their stores, you can support them by buying dining vouchers and it gives you something to look forward to when their restaurants do finally open.

Free2B

Free2B Alliance is a London based community organisation, supporting LGBTQ+ young people and their parents and they have been making sure that those who rely on their services still receive the support they need. They have created a range of resources from activity ideas, wellbeing advice to content around how to manage being in lockdown in unsupportive households.

Free2B have also adapted their 1:1 and group services so that they can be accessed online, making sure that their community is still very much supported.

One activity that their younger members have been enjoying are the colouring sheets that TMC collaborated with Free2B on. Taking the illustrated characters from Free2B’s recent rebrand that we worked on with them, we created some fun yet meaningful colouring sheets. Their ‘Better Together’ and ‘Love is Love’ characters seem to take on a new meaning in the current climate and make for the perfect activity for families to do together.

KALITA

With a passion for sustainable fashion and a company ethos that sees 10% of proceeds going to a chosen charity every year, KALITA, the luxe clothing brand, is used giving back. Their timeless garments are part of 2% of the industry that participate in the honest production process, they use low impact Azo free dyes, all their deliveries are carbon neutral and their packaging is designed to be reused. So, it was a no brainer for founder Kalita Al Swaidi when it came to stepping up during this challenging time and helping out in areas she felt needed support. For every purchase made from the KALITA website 20% of sales will be donated to Age UK and Barnardo’s to support their COVID-19 relief efforts.

So, why not treat yourself and support this beautiful brand while helping to raise crucial funds for two great charities.

Bonju

Bonju, a Geneva based brand offering a range of premium super green smoothies and juices, has been taking care of key workers while they’re taking care of us by handing out free bottles of the Bonju to the medical teams working at Geneva’s hospital.

Bonju has also created a JOMO (joy of missing out) “Stay at Home” bag filled with goodies to make staying indoors even more healthy and fun. All the proceeds go to support Partage, the only food bank in Geneva, and help with their food collection programs.

Bonju’s founder, Judy Okten also offers corporate coaching, life coaching and meditation via her company Hive and Well and has been sharing some inspiring online resources for meditation, stress relief and breathing exercises through her social media.

The Studio and I are extremely proud to be working with brands that have such a strong sense of responsibility. Our Partners have always striven to support and empower their communities beyond the expected and set a new standard for how we do business. And now, in the face of such adversity and change, they continue to react to the needs of others. I believe they have always and continue to set the best example.

Toby Marsh, Founder & Director of Toby Marsh Creative