03/12/2020… The unrelenting ravage of Covid-19 pandemic in the country is causing untold suffering to various sectors of the economy. The construction industry has not been left behind as many ongoing projects have either stalled or stopped altogether, leaving hundreds of painters in financial distress.
Crown Paints Plc Group Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Rao says there is an urgent need to mitigate its over 150,000 painters from the pandemic since they play a significant role in the firm’s business value chain.
Rao made the remarks while unveiling an instant Mpesa redemption promotion dubbed Paka Rangi, Pata Pesa na Crown Paints targeting its loyalty program – Team Kubwa members that is scheduled to run from 3rd December 2020 to 31st January 2021. Painters will be able to redeem from as low as Ksh. 50 via MPESA instantly. A painter simply needs to purchase Crown Paints products and redeem by sending an SMS to 20543 with AMOUNT 50/250/750 OR Team Kubwa App select MPESA or Call 0709 887000.
“We recognize the fundamental role painters’ play in our business and we’re therefore mandated to look out for their financial wellbeing by introducing an initiative that will help them cope with the economic burden that has been escalated by coronavirus pandemic,” Rao explained.
Crown Paints has introduced a holistic approach by offering Team Kubwa members solutions for today where one is able to buy products and get rewarded with instant Mpesa and other existing instant prizes such as airtime, shopping vouchers, KPLC tokens and home appliances which would be a financial reprieve for thousands of painters who are experiencing harsh economic times due to limited or none painting job opportunities as the pandemic persists.
The holistic approach also offers job opportunities to secure the tomorrow for painters through its Team Kubwa Master Painters referral programme where members are required to register through the call center. This will enable Crown Paints to confidently recommend these select painters to homeowners, big contractors and other professionals for job opportunities.
The approach also looks into the future of a painter by offering a saving platform through the Team Kubwa SACCO which aims at financially empowering members and help them develop a savings culture to achieve their desires.
In July this year the paint firm unveiled the first-ever saving and credit union for its painters to enable them raise capital to improve and grow their businesses. The GCEO said the Sacco would provide the members with an easy avenue for financial support particularly during these hard economic times necessitated by the Corona virus pandemic.
Rao said all these initiatives intend to benefit all its painters across the country and urged them to register to the Team Kubwa painter program to be able to access the opportunities on offer for today, tomorrow and the future. He said the firm will continue to offer the training skills for painters to safeguard the profession from unscrupulous individuals who are out to taint the industry.