Top Designers Team up with Small New York Businesses for Merch Aid

08/04/2020

R/GA US

Advertising Agency

New York, USA

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08/04/2020

R/GA launched the initiative teaming up businesses with top designers to keep them running during the coronavirus pandemic

R/GA have launched a fun project linking businesses struggling with the aftermath of COVID-19 with the top designers in NYC.

The financial side-effects of Covid-19 are staggering and the virus is crippling thousands of small businesses - the anchors of our vibrant, unique communities. Thankfully, locals want to help, evidenced by an outpouring of calls to buy merch or gift cards if a business sells them. The problem is that many small businesses don’t have the design resources or knowledge to create this merchandise (or any of the additional marketing material they need during this time).

R/GA senior copywriter Chloe Saintlan and associate creative directors Zack Roif and Matt Woodward recognised this and spearheaded Merch Aid: an initiative connecting established and upcoming artists and designers with small brick and mortar businesses that have unexpectedly shuttered due to Covid-19. The initiative allows creatives to illustrate designs for businesses, places them on t-shirts and tote bags, and sells them on the Merch Aid site - with all proceeds going back to the businesses, generating a new revenue stream to cover overhead costs and employees.

The platform launched on April 6th here featuring the below collaborations, and after the launch, Merch Aid will drop new daily collaborations and the platform will open up to the design world at-large, growing the impact, and hopefully keeping our favorite shops afloat nationwide.