MULO Brands With Soul: January Picks
When tragedy strikes, the true MULO (multi-location) brand soul emerges. First, our hearts go out to all the people and businesses devastated by the LA fire. As of this writing, more than 10K homes and businesses have been destroyed. Close to 200K people are currently displaced.
The media has been packed with stories of celebrities losing mansions. However, stories are just starting to emerge of the tireless first responders and firefighters and the hourly workers who have lost everything — including their incomes — as a result of the devastation.
Nimble retailers and restaurants have been able to quickly move workers to new locations. But thousands remain without a source of income.
Thank you to those who have contacted us with news of companies and organizations helping the victims for the LA fire. At times like these, providing resources is critical.
- Dan Bejmuk, CEO and Co-Founder of Dreambox, alerted us that the California Restaurant Association is providing emergency grants through its Restaurants Care initiative.
- Habit Burger & Grill is delivering food to first responder coordination sites. The Los Angeles Times published a list of MULO chains and small businesses that provide meals. At times like these, brand size doesn’t matter.
- Fat Brands is donating 10K meals via its Fatmobile to first responders and evacuees.
- GiftAMeal is doubling its donations during this time.
- Kroger, Instacart, and Amazon have all pledged relief, as have Target, Walmart, and other retailers.
- Planet Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness are offering up their gyms for showers, charging stations, and other amenities for both first responders and people who had to leave their homes.
- The Guitar Center Music Foundation makes grants available to replace musical instruments and gear.
At times like these, brands with soul move quickly to meet the needs of those who have been hit hardest by losses like the LA fire victims. They are often humble and only use marketing and PR to build awareness so that the people they serve can easily find resources.
We’ll be updating this list as the week progresses. If you know of any retailers, restaurants, or service businesses offering large-scale programs, please contact [email protected].