With winter rapidly settling in, Printacom Technologies, part of the MB Technologies Group, is taking the sting out of the weather for less privileged South Africans by throwing its weight behind the Twitter Blanket Drive.
Printacom Technologies has responded to an invitation by the Protea Fire & Ice Hotel, in Melrose Arch, to participate in the blanket drive by donating 500 blankets and making a commitment to donate another each time selected OKI printers are bought by end-users in the months of May and June.
Initiated by a tweet in 2010 by advertising executive @ melanieminnaar, in which she suggested that the SA Twitter community should donate blankets and spread the word, over 700 blankets were collected that year. By 2011, over 2 700 blankets resulted. With the participation of companies like Printacom Technologies, that number is set to be far higher this year, agrees Neil Rom, MD of Printacom Technologies.
“It's a great campaign, which allows ordinary people to participate and spread the word, while also setting down a challenge for corporate South Africa to rise to the occasion,” he says.
The Protea Hotel Fire & Ice Melrose Arch (@ ProteaHotels #fireandicema) is hosting an official Twitter Blanket Drive open event, on 26 May 2012. The hotel will serve as a drop-off point for blankets; participants are encouraged to tweet pictures of their drop-off. The proceeds of the day are to go to Nkosi's Haven and Kitty & Puppy Haven.
Spreading the word is done through Twitter using the hashtag #TBDZA. “That makes this campaign all the more appealing. It is leveraging emerging technology platforms to rapidly reach across South Africa and stimulate community involvement,” continues Rom. “The end result is that the needy benefit from some much-required relief through the cold winter months.”
Additionally, says Protea Hotel Fire & Ice general manager, Anton Gillis, milkshakes will be provided for everyone who brings blankets to the hotel on 26 May; he adds that there are further incentives to encourage giving. “Anyone who donates 250 blankets will be tweeted about on the night and will be on the screens at the event,” Gillis notes.
With its initial contribution of 500 blankets representing an investment of R20 000, Rom says it is incentivising printer buyers to participate through the commitment to give another with the sale of certain models. “There is no additional cost to the customer, as Printacom Technologies bears the cost - but the buyer will know that they have done their bit,” he explains. These buyers will also be entered into a lucky draw for a night's accommodation at a Protea hotel of their choice (terms and conditions apply).
“Twitter has proven it can achieve great things; the more people who spread the word, the more blankets can be collected and given to those in need,” Rom adds.
In addition to blankets, members of the public can also donate clothing, whether new or used. Collection points are located at various places countrywide, including Williams Hunt dealerships.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.twitterblanketdrive.co.za
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Printacom Technologies
Printacom Technologies, a member of the MB Technologies group of companies, is the sole authorised vendor of the OKI Printing Solutions, TallyGenicom and Tally Dascom Line Printers brands of printer and printer consumables in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, including the Southern African Development Countries (SADC) region.
The Tally Genicom range of line matrix technology is supplied by Printronix, while thermal and dot matrix printing by Dascom.
Ranked among the top three printer brands worldwide with representation in 120 countries worldwide, OKI Printing Solutions specialises in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing business printing solutions which empower organisations to communicate more effectively. More information about OKI is available at: http://www.OKISA.co.za.
MB Technologies is a member of the Royal Bafokeng Group of Companies.
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