PEP Stores’ Lay-By Buddy initiative has seen phenomenal support from South African’s who have found it in their hearts to help those facing increasing financial pressure in these difficult times, especially with the new school year starting next week. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of the general public in the lead up to back-to-school, PEP was able to send out vouchers to the value of over R270 000 to over 1 600 PEP customers to settle specifically their school lay-bys and collect their parcels just in time for school.
CEO Jaap Hamman explains that it was one incredible citizen who initially inspired the idea when they visited a PEP store in December 2019 and paid off all the outstanding lay-bys at that store. The good deed sparked a wave of similar donations, with many of them chronicled on the #ImStaying Facebook group.
“Our purpose as a business is to make it possible for everyone to look and feel good and as such, we are always looking for new ways to delight them. It was this act of kindness which inspired us to formalise the contribution process and help more customers with their lay-bys,” says Hamman. “The 4 200 contributions received from the general public so far (totalling over R800,000) toward paying off PEP Customers’ lay-bys is indicative of the generosity of ordinary South Africans and we see our role as an enabler to formalise the contribution process, both online and in store.” PEP also played its part by contributing R1.5m towards the Lay-by Buddy Initiative.
The general public can give back to those in need by making any contribution from as little as R2 in any PEP, PEP HOME or PEP CELL store and R20 online at www.pepstores.com towards a PEP customer’s lay-by and customers then receive the good news via SMS voucher.
Lay-bys offer customers a way to buy essential items like school wear, children and baby clothing by paying off the items over a period of four months interest-free. With this initiative, PEP can help to lighten the financial load of many parents over this time.
The start to South Africa’s new school year coincides with the global Random Act of Kindness Week (14 to 20 February), and to mark the occasion, PEP is calling on all South African’s to help reach a target of supporting 20 000 lay-by customers before the end of February 2021.
“We have received so many heartfelt thank-yous from customers that have received a PEP Lay-By Buddy voucher to settle their account so these contributions really are making a huge difference in customers’ lives so let’s continue to do good together,” says Hamman.
To find out how to become a PEP Lay-By Buddy, visit www.pepstores.com, or follow PEP on Facebook.com/PEPSocial and Instagram.com/pep_southafrica.
