T-shirt campaign helps businesses struggling with COVID-19 closures
Niagara residents who aren’t able to eat at their favourite restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic can lend their support to local eateries in another way.
They can wear their love for them on their sleeves — or their chests, more precisely — thanks to a T-shirt campaign by a Welland promotional product design company.
Sorry, We’re Closed was launched last month by Presstime Design and Screenprint to help small businesses, including restaurants, tattoo parlours, hair salons, dog kennels and concert venues forced to close to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Sales of the black and white T-shirts commissioned by individual businesses and designed by Presstime are meant to offer another avenue of financial support during the mandated closures.
“Any business that hits us up that’s in need at any time, we’re like, ‘You’re in,’” said Ricky Pridmore, Presstime owner. “We’re just trying to cover as much ground as possible.”
Sorry, We’re Closed came to be after a Presstime employee suggested designing shirts to bring in revenue for small businesses during the state of emergency. Pridmore, whose own business depends on many of those that are currently shuttered, said the idea took off quickly once he and his design team set to work on the look and feel of the campaign. “It’s about trying to help people around us because these people are all clients or are people we want to work with and it’s just such a positive (experience) to be in touch with them and help any way we can,” he said.
“We’ve got such a great design team and part of the campaign is about showing our skills in the design world. It’s been a huge opportunity to show people what we can do.”
The highly visual designs featuring participating businesses’ logos appear whimsical at first glance but many bear more serious timely messages; for example, a T-shirt for Ironwood Cider in Niagara-on-the-Lake shows the company’s wavy logo set atop a curved line, and sandwiched between the words “Do It Right” and “Flatten the Curve.”
Some of the other local food and drink purveyors participating in the campaign include Dispatch in St. Catharines, Haist Farms in Fenwick, Breakwall Brewing in Port Colborne and Welland’s Rex Hotel.
The campaign also features Tshirts supporting tattoo parlours, massage clinics, restaurants and food producers from elsewhere in the province.
The T-shirts sell online at sorrywereclosed.com for $28 with $20 from each going directly to the business and the remainder covering material and printing costs. Presstime is taking pre-orders for shirts with shipping expected to start mid-April.
“Some of them are selling really well,” Pridmore said. “Most people get the idea that so many small businesses are struggling right now. If you’re a fan of the business and want them to stay around, a T-shirt is a great way to support their business."