During a global pandemic, it is hard to know the right thing to do. Individuals, organizations, businesses and local governments are making decisions as to how to best navigate these unprecedented times.
Small businesses are facing their own sets of challenges. Employing 47.5% of the nation’s workforce, it is paramount to find ways to stay in business. In order to do so, many businesses are pivoting. Fashion companies are making medical gowns. Shoe manufacturers are making masks. Automobile manufacturers are making ventilators. Restaurants are carry-out and delivery only. These are fantastic examples of American ingenuity and our “can-do” spirit.
At JAMAH, we have been working on how we can contribute in a meaningful way. While we are still taking orders, we want to be mindful about how we market our brand in this environment. Internally, we are focusing on strengthening our business model so that we come through this with our team intact. We are using this time to strategize, to plan for our future, to scale up, to grow our organization. We remain committed to being a model of a strong, principled, American luxury brand.
During this period, it is important to stay connected with our customers and community. One of the ways we will do this is by featuring the JAMAH DESIGNER INSPIRATION SERIES; stories of the remarkable and amazing people who have inspired our designs. Now more than ever, it is important to recognize the enormous impact that individuals can make.
At the same time, the expectation is that businesses who are functioning should be donating to different organizations working to contain COVID-19. While a noble cause, given that 70% of our economy is based on consumer spending, it stands to reason that keeping people employed is vital in terms of surviving this pandemic economically.
This brings us to the heart of JAMAH, which is AMBITION, our non-profit organization with which we are intrinsically entwined. While our current reality is 100% engrossing, it is important to remember that vulnerable students and young people are bearing much of the brunt. Their worlds have been turned upside down. They have almost no control over much of what is going on in their lives.
A school-based entrepreneurial program designed to empower youth, AMBITION provides access to mentors, business opportunities and education. These students ARE the future and they want to be part of the solution. Education and supporting our youth is how JAMAH can best contribute to a healthy and positive future. AMBITION allows us to be part of the short-term and long-term solution.
AMBITION, like schools everywhere, has shifted from the classroom to working remotely. Likewise, our program’s Tesla-centered project is not in line with the current environment. This particular moment provides the perfect opportunity to focus on AMBITION’S commerce component, The Ultimate Tease. This provocative line of T-shirts is meant to ignite meaningful conversation about real issues. It is an uncensored call-to-action for people to say what they really think. It encourages unification, connection and collaboration.
Mentors and students, connecting through the virtual classroom provided by ZOOM, are brainstorming marketing strategies.
Our first “Tease” is a modern day “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover,” or as we like to say… YOU DON’T KNOW [SHIT] ABOUT ME. With respect to subtlety, we’ve chosen to camouflage the [SHIT]. All of our “dirty words” are disguised using tone-on-tone coloring; they are there, but you’ll miss them if you’re not paying attention. If the [DIRTY WORD] isn’t in your vocabulary, we can leave it out. The message is the same with or without it! Proper grammar however, is non-negotiable!
A portion of the proceeds always goes to the AMBITION Student Scholarship Fund. In honor of #CollaborateForCause, the students have opted to split their scholarship funds with a COVID-19 fundraiser. Being part of the solution and having something to contribute elevates and empowers them with a sense a worthiness.
In light of Covid-19, the campaign will launch with a series of “You Don’t Know About Me, but I am Staying at Home…” videos to draw attention to the current stay-at-home orders.
Buy yours today at:
www.theultimatetease.org
