Two of New Zealand’s leading locally owned marketing companies are teaming up to help small Kiwi businesses in the
aftermath of Covid-19. LUMO Digital Outdoor and Pitchblack Partners are offering their digital media network and
creative services to local businesses for free, to help them get back on their feet and hit the ground running.
The initiative, ‘Up and Running’, will offer small businesses across New Zealand much-needed visibility as business resumes under the ‘new normal’. The
team at Pitchblack will help with creative, then the LUMO team will offer placement across its network of 23 screens in
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga.
LUMO and Pitchblack traditionally work with businesses of all different types and sizes, but they’re putting aside time
and resource to help small enterprises in particular, to navigate a post-Covid-19 marketplace. Any small business can
get in touch – from hospitality to retail, professional, personal and trade services plus many more. Additionally, Aux
Digital and Assembly have come on board to facilitate the website and animation.
The prime objective is to encourage consumers from the local community to support their neighbourhood stores. It is not
a charity request but it will offer the chance for people to show how much they value the importance of smaller
businesses by helping them to get back on their feet and to prosper once again.
“LUMO and Pitchblack are both independent and 100% Kiwi-owned, so we know as well as anyone what it’s like to operate a
small business in New Zealand. We know nothing about vaccines, and knitting face masks would be a disaster, but we know
marketing and can put our skills to good use remotely,” says Tom Paine of Pitchblack Partners.
One of the first businesses on board is Chia Sisters, with co-founder Florence Van Dyke adding:
“This is an incredible offer by LUMO and Pitchblack. There has been an upsurge in local support and collaboration during
this time and LUMO and Pitchblack are at the forefront of that. We lost 70% of our business overnight when cafes and
restaurants closed. This opportunity will fast-track the pivot of our business to online delivery, and has the potential
to help keep our business afloat and team employed. This type of generosity makes us grateful and proud to be a Kiwi
company.”
Furthermore, Pitchblack and Lumo are encouraging other media entities, locally and globally, to get behind the
initiative.
“LUMO and Pitchblack are kicking this off, but we really want other media companies to step up and get involved with the
Up and Running. TVNZ, SKY, NZME. We all have an obligation and the resources to help get the country up and running
again, and that starts with small businesses; the lifeblood of the nation,” says Kent Harrison and Phil Clemas,
co-founders of LUMO.
Submissions are now open, with small to medium sized businesses encouraged to visit upandrunning.org.nz for more details.
Find them on Instagram @getupandrunningnz