Donations and discounts offered by RHS partners to support those on the frontline.
The RHS has revealed that a number of its licensees are supporting the NHS and key workers with donations and discounts.
The list – underlining the diverse nature of the RHS licensing campaign – includes makers of luxury chocolate, gardening footwear and swing seats and benches.
Amelie Chocolat nearly doubled its Easter sales this year, despite running on a reduced staff to ensure social distancing in its factory and slimming down its range of products to its best sellers.
The range includes products from its B&LLA-nominated collection – the RHS Woodland Collection, the RHS Raspberry and Champagne Collection, and the RHS Cherry Chocolate Collection, and the high level of interest from chocolate lovers has not stopped after Easter as orders continue to pour in.
Amelie had already donated chocolates to several NHS teams over Easter and now that everything is in place to safely fulfil the high level of customer orders, Amelie has decided that all profit generated over the month from April 16 to May 15 will be donated straight to the NHS.
Meanwhile, The Original Muck Boot Company – which has an RHS-endorsed range including multi-purpose gardening boots and shoes – is offering a 30% discount to NHS staff, through the Blue Light Card and its associated portal. The Blue Light Card provides those in the NHS, emergency services and armed forces with discounts both online and in-store. The Blue Light Card also allows companies to get involved with offering discounts to frontline workers.
Finally, swing seat and bench maker, Sitting Spiritually has posted a message on its site explaining that it has been able to continue operations as its designers and suppliers are largely based in independent workshops – and founder Martin Young has added a personal invitation to all NHS and key support workers to get in touch.
“We realise how lucky we are to be so busy during these difficult times, and feel we have a responsibility to help where possible,” said Natalie Levy, founder and director of Amelie Chocolat. “This means that, for four weeks, every time customers order chocolates from us, all the profit we make on the order will be donated straight to the NHS. We’re delighted to be able to do our bit to help our frontline workers.”
Eleanor Cornwell, EMEA marketing lead at The Original Muck Boot Company, added: “It’s a tough time for everyone right now, but especially for our key workers. We’re delighted to be working with the Blue Light Card to help key workers to take a moment for themselves and enjoy time in the outdoors with loved ones as and when they can safely do so.”
Martin Young, founder of Sitting Spiritually, continued: “We are grateful to be able to carrying on working at this difficult time, but we know that without the staff of the NHS things would be a lot tougher. Our thanks to you all.”
Cathy Snow, licensing manager at the RHS, said that she was grateful to all the partners for their generous gestures.
“We are delighted to be able to highlight partners that not only produce high-quality work that has been endorsed or licensed by the RHS, but that have been able to support or help key workers during one of the most challenging times in our country’s recent history,” she said. “We’re grateful to you for these generous gestures – and to all our key workers for their selflessness and professionalism.”
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