Can Disasters Boost Your Business?

In the wake of a disaster you might see - a TIDE “Loads of Hope” vehicle arrive.

Obviously this helps promote “good will” for their brand and gives customers a sense they’re “helping” when they buy the brand, but it doesn’t dilute (no pun intended!) Tide’s identity by moving outside its field of familiarity.

Here’s how TIDE capitalizes on their charitable/marketing efforts.

Here’s what they do:

With 32 high-effiency washers and dryers, the Tide CleanStart truck
• Can do 300 wash and dry cycles a day - equal to one year’s worth of laundry for a single family.
• Will wash about 9,000 loads of laundry over a four-week period.
• Has washed more than 20,000 loads of laundry for New Orleans families.

Most importantly, the Tide CleanStart truck means we’re equipped to take action whenever and wherever there is a need in our country.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the need for clean clothing became critical, and Tide found a way to help. So in November 2005, the Tide CleanStart truck headed to Camp Hope in the Metairie, LA area and cleaned over 10,000 loads of laundry. The spirit of this first venture informs and inspires everything Tide Loads of Hope program does.

Could this be adapted to a local/regional brand or home based business - like yours?

Could your disaster relief efforts give you name recognition in addition to a warm feeling?

They even sell “Vintage Tide TShirts” to support this effort. What could you do?