RETAILER Pep has raised R80 000 in only two months through its Lay-By-Buddy initiative. The funds will be used to settling lay-bys nationwide.
In addition, the company said it would contribute to this initiative by paying off one lay-by account in every South African store to the total value of R250 000, starting on Monday.
Pep said the initiative, which was launched more than a year ago, was inspired by an anonymous good Samaritan who, sometime back, settled the accounts of several random Pep lay-by customers. “It’s since received a total of R1.15 million in contributions from over 6 000 individuals and has sent out over 30 000 vouchers to settle lay-bys, enabling customers access to their goods sooner than expected,” the company said.
Pep marketing executive Beyers van der Merwe said: “We are so grateful to those who have so far contributed to our winter drive, and we hope to continue settling outstanding lay-bys as more funding comes in. For as little as a cup of coffee, it’s fantastic to see how the contributions are making a difference.”
Pep said the Lay-By-Buddy initiative would continue to run throughout the year, with summer still a few months away and back-to-school on the horizon. Simply contribute from as little as R2 in any Pep store or R20 online by scanning the QR code. “Lay-by customers are selected at random and will receive an SMS voucher to settle their outstanding Pep lay-by,” Pep said.
A Pep customer said: “Thank you so much. I’m currently unemployed, and I was going to cancel the lay-by, but thanks to you, my child will now receive her winter goodies.” Another said: “Thank you so much for the voucher. It helped, as I was retrenched from my company after 18 years of service. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get this lay-by out for my kids.”
It’s been a very cold winter for much of the country, with many families struggling to stay warm. Items such as blankets, shoes and warm clothes are not easily affordable, and often a lay-by is the best option, because it requires only a small deposit and can be cancelled at any time without penalties.
BUSINESS REPORT ONLINE