Social responsibility is becoming increasingly important in the business world. More and more consumers want to know that the brands they are buying from are largely doing the right thing, whether that’s in terms of how they source their products, how they treat their employees, or how their operations impact the environment.
As well as the good feeling that comes from doing the right thing, being socially responsible in your business is great for your brand’s reputation, helping to improve brand affinity and customer loyalty. For small businesses, being charitable and giving to local causes and charities can really help to boost your brand’s reputation.
Read on for a great way to get charitable with your branded products.
Care packages for charities and vulnerable individuals
Many people are reluctant to give money to people on the streets, whether they are homeless or are struggling in other ways. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to help. There are other ways you can support vulnerable people in your town or city, by making up a care package for them, for example.
This is a good idea for a charitable event you can run with your business. You can make up care packages to distribute to homeless people around your area, or to donate to homeless shelters and similar organizations so they can better support the people that rely on these shelters. You can also provide care packages for other types of people who might be in need, such as older people who live alone or who may be housebound.
Performing these kinds of charitable acts can help a lot of people as well as being positive for your business. Make sure to promote what you are doing to raise more awareness for the cause you are supporting. You could even get support from your customers by asking for their donations or asking them to share the story.
What to put in your care package
You may not be able to provide a homeless person with all the support they need, but a few basic items can make their days and nights much more comfortable. Here are some ideas of what to include:
- Warm socks
- A hat, scarf, and gloves
- Toothbrush and toothpaste (or a chewable tooth cleaning product they can use anywhere)
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle
- Sanitary products for women
- Hairbrush
- Cereal bars/protein bars (and other convenient food items)
- First aid kit
Try to avoid including anything too bulky that will be difficult to carry with them if they have to move around a lot.
Giving away branded items that can genuinely help others is a great way to build a socially responsible business. Get in touch with Custom Advertising to find out how we can help you with your promotional product strategy.