GAYS MILLS - Scansin Brand, a Madison-based apparel design shop owned by Nicolas Boehm, recently launched its ‘Save ___’ campaign to encourage individuals to support local bars, restaurants and workers during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We all need to find creative ways to pull together and help others in our community,” Boehm said. “At this point, seeing the magnitude of the economic crisis shaping up, I have basically devoted all the resources of my business to this effort.” 

Boehm is a 1994 North Crawford graduate, and son of Alice and Gerald Boehm of rural Gays Mills. He currently resides in a downtown neighborhood in Madison.

“My motivation for launching this campaign has to do with my community here in Madison,” Boehm said. “I know this is the case everywhere. We all develop our own community of public spaces, and get to know the people that work there. This creates a cultural richness and is the fabric of our home.”

With all non-essential brick and mortar businesses temporarily closed, tipped workers and independent businesses may experience financial catastrophe during the crisis. 

“I was blindsided by the shut downs, and my first thought was to wonder what are these workers and businesses going to do?" Boehm said. “It’s tough to run these businesses even in the best of times, and they have been among the first to take a hit in these tough times we’re living through.”

So Boehm created the ‘Save ___’ campaign to rally Wisconsinites to help.

“It’s personal for all of us who are missing the usual places that we visit,” Boehm said. “I feel the loss in my personal life, but even with my business, a lot of meetings and conversations used to take place in those public places.” 

For every customizable ‘Save’ t-shirt purchased, Scansin Brand will give $10 to the buyer’s choice, a direct tip to an area service worker or to a relief fund for service industry workers and businesses in need (serviceindustry.tips/en or restaurantworkerscf.org). Buyers will also receive 10% off an additional Scansin Brand item for each ‘Save’ tee purchased. 

Buyers can customize their ‘Save [business name]’ t-shirt to support their favorite bar or restaurant. They are also encouraged to host ‘virtual happy hours’ with friends to share the final product and help spread the word. 

 “What makes our cities, towns and neighborhoods great is the gems around the corner, the hangouts we make our homes away from home,” Boehm said. “And the true heart and soul? Our friends and neighbors who work there! If we all pull together, we’ll get through this tough time.”