What do you get when you cross a MerB’y and a Penguin posse? Why, a global phenomenon, delighting beard lovers everywhere, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for community groups.
In this, the third year of the MerB’ys calendar, we’re super excited to be teaming up with the NL Beard and Moustache Club to amp up the fun and sales of the calendar, which will make a huge difference in our community.
Ocean’s Three
The MerB’ys is the brainchild of the NL Beard and Moustache Club - a group of like-minded people, who were getting together to share their love of community and facial hair, and came up with the idea of supporting both male body positivity and community organizations through sales of a calendar featuring members of the club wearing mermaid tails.
Far from your average firefighters calendar, where the models are taut and tough, there were a variety of body types on display, all of which were wrapped in sequins and scales and prominently featured perfectly coiffed beards.
Net Profits
In its first two years, the calendar gained international attention, featured on blogs, viral video platforms, and more which resulted in the sales of over 26,000 calendars the world over. Not only was this movement about sharing a clever wink and nod to old-fashioned racy calendars, it was a huge moneymaker for community groups. In the first year, the MerB’ys (a mixture of Mermen and B’y, a gender-neutral Newfoundland colloquialism for every person you meet) donated more than $300,000 to the Spirit Horse NL, a therapeutic peer-support riding program standing for Supporting Peers In Recovery-based Interactive Therapy. In year two, the Merb’ys supported Violence Prevention NL for a project called Deconstructing Masculinity, aimed engaging men directly with violence prevention, to the tune of more than $200,000
Scale Back? … Never.
This year, the calendar will be in support of Planned Parenthood Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre, and we’re going bigger than ever. You’ll find the MerB’ys all around the metro area for the next several months. They’ll have calendars for sale, will be signing previous years’ calendars, and taking photos with their adoring public.
How will you find us? You’ll see this GIANT MerB’ys photo wall, where you can become a MerB’y yourself!
Our very own Sid illustrated it by hand and we worked with sponsor iDesign to get it ready just in time for the Regatta and lots of other summer events!
A Yaffle More
We’re also working with the club to get out newsletters with the latest news and events, so be sure to sign up so you’ll know where we’ll be! Don’t forget to click “Like” on all the social media posts we’ll be flinging out there, and be sure to stop by the super fun launch of a special MerB’ys brew at Landwash Brewery on Aug. 28. Can’t make it? Buy your calendar now and dream of 2020 today!
A Drop in the Ocean
This year is going to be off the hook for the Penguins and MerB’ys and these fish puns are Kraken me up, so if you can think of more, let minnow!
BONUS CONTENT:
A few amazing MerB'ys customers have asked about a possible colouring book and you know we had to oblige! Want to colour the Merb'ys? Just download this file
for your FREE colouring sheet!