Business

Powerful Badges: Three British Brands That Are Leading The Way

09/02/2022

Badges are an integral part of an employee’s uniform. They can be used by a member of staff to show customers their name or the department they work in. Well – we’re here to tell you that badges can be so much more powerful than that.

In the UK, more and more companies are beginning to use badges to do good, whether that’s starting conversations or raising money for charity. Here are three British brands that will inspire your business to do just this.

Asda’s ‘Happy to Chat’ button badge

Asda is setting a shining example for other supermarket giants with their ‘Happy to Chat’ badges. Delivery drivers all across Britain wear these button badges to show customers they are open to having a conversation. Although they may be small, these badges are a big encouragement to people who are lonely.

The supermarket giant began to use these button badges in November 2020, during the colder months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a response to people feeling lonely and isolated from their loved ones during lockdown. According to Asda, research showed that 23% of customers only spoke to one person a week, and sometimes that was a delivery driver.

To someone who has limited contact with the outside world, a five-minute conversation with a delivery driver may make all the difference. Asda’s ‘Happy to Chat’ badges are a worthy example of a British brand using badges to do good. In fact, the campaign was so successful, they’ve continued to use these after the pandemic.

Simon Gregg, Vice President of Online Grocery at Asda, commented: “These badges are a symbol of our worker’s continued friendly and approachable service which can make such a difference to those that don’t have much contact with others.”

#PinYourThanks’ charity pin badges

PinYourThanks is another company using badges to do good. It all began with the start of COVID-19. As the pandemic that changed the fabric of society, #PinYourThanks realised it could utilise badges to raise money for the NHS. Each purchase helps the NHS to provide patients with rooms to recover from the virus and technologies for them to speak with loved ones while they are isolated.

There are a number of pin badges customers can buy that support charitable causes. To encourage people to buy these badges and support our NHS, #PinYourThanks collaborates with celebrities. From Keira Knightley to Ringo Starr, these public figures design an array of eye-catching badges.

Mackenzie Thorpe, an admired artist throughout Britain, has also collaborated with #PinYourThanks. This badge was gifted to staff at the South Tees Hospital Charity. The pin badge displays a young figure holding a heart-shaped balloon. Really, it is the perfect representation of hope for the future of the UK.

Jacob Young, MP for Redcar, has commended the work of #PinYourThanks: “Mackenzie’s design is a beautiful tribute to all those who have worked so hard during this pandemic and I was delighted to see this People’s Medal design given the full endorsement of the Prime Minister when I met him this week.”

Boots’ Macmillan cancer support badges

Boots UK is using badges to support its customers. For a long time, Boots have used their golden pin badges so that customers are familiar with the staff who are helping them. In addition to this, Boots is now using badges to show that its stores are a safe space for people to start conversations about their experiences with cancer. Boots has been in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support for 12 years. During this time, the companies have trained staff to become Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists (BMIP) and Boots Macmillan Beauty Advisors (BMBA).

Staff members are equipped with the knowledge to provide customers with information on how to live a full life while going through cancer treatments. As a BMIP, staff will share medicinal advice. In comparison, a BMBA will advise customers on the physical effects of cancer, from hair loss to skin problems. Overall, staff are all there to listen and provide support.

Customers may have important questions about themselves or a family member, but starting this conversation can be daunting. To show customers which pharmacists and beauty advisors are trained to give support, Boots staff wear a rectangular white badge. Therefore, the partnership between Boots and Macmillan is easily recognisable to the public.

The Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Boots UK, Morgan Punton, comments: “This small pin symbolises the mighty impact that Boots UK’s partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support is having on those living with cancer – a small but significant reminder that we’re all in this together.”

These are three examples of British companies using badges to do good. There were many others that came before, and there will be many others to come. This is more than a matter of public relations; pin badges are a way for employees to be welcoming and show their support. How will your business rise to the occasion and use badges to do good?