We are having yet another busiest season ever. The elves, the reindeer Mrs. Claus, and I look forward to a much needed vacation in a location that remains a well-kept secret.
Before we go, I’d like to update you on the status of last year’s strategic plan regarding social media, branding and diversity.
Our Values and Our Future
Our decisions are based on the following values, demographic trends, and assessment of threats by a team of outside experts.
- Santa Inc. upholds tradition in a world where change is ever present, sometimes omnipresent. We stand for the importance of tradition across all cultures and religions.
- We receive handwritten letters from children (and adults) all over the world. This ritual should and will be maintained.
- These letters are incredibly uplifting to our extremely busy work force. Some of you have suggested that we move to electronic and mobile communications. While we appreciate your input, we will continue to use snail mail. Why? Tradition rules here at the North Pole. In addition, our employee engagement strategy relies on the elves’ joy in reading your hand written notes, especially those from the children. We find it is still one of the best ways to retain motivate and reward our talented workforce. We have, therefor, decided to follow the sage and highly paid advice of our consultants. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
- Addendum: We encourage our U.S. based clients to support their local post office in these times of duress for the old pony express. We would sorely miss the country that provides us with the most “laffable” misspellings.
- Our brand is strong. This includes the red and white, the beard, the “Ho Ho Ho,” the sled, the reindeer, and the fact that Santa (much like the Gerber baby) never ages. We will make no changes.
- There is no foreseeable competitive threat from companies planning, thinking about or hoping to do business in the North Pole. Our headquarters will remain here.
Social Media Policy Update
We have no plans to create an official presence on Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, Quora, or any other social media site. And we are certainly not going to establish ourselves on KLOUT as we have no doubt about our expertise in GENEROSITY.
We will not have a website, a blog or an email account.
We will read and respond to snail mail only.
The following points were raised during our discussions. While they are important and worthy of consideration, they did not form the basis of our decisions.
Concern was voiced over Rudolph’s nose dominating photos on the world wide web and becoming an unintended icon.
We discussed whether each elf and each reindeer would have his/her own account on various social media sites. This would mean creating an entire department to set policy guidelines and monitor activity. The extra cost would add little value to our core work – spreading the spirit of generosity. Therefor Ixnay on individual social media accounts.
Diversity at Santa Inc.
We have decided to implement a diversity initiative. It is just the beginning of what we hope will become another tradition. In phase 1 we are adopting the Rule of 3 as our goal. Santa Inc. is working with 3Plus International to add three women to our board and to advance women in our organization. Paul McConaughy @minutrtion, who has stood in for Santa on several occasions, is heading up this effort. Lee J. Carey will be working with Paul. To ensure we gain the full advantage of this new talent, we joined Catalyst Inc (best source for practical research on women and business). Outside advisors Joe Gerstandt, Eric Peterson and Tanya Odom will help craft our diversity strategy going forward.
The toy industry, our largest vendor group, has been informed of these decisions, so they can rethink the way their products and advertising campaigns depict children. Barbie – you have been warned.
We appreciate all of you who urged us to consider the issues of brand, social media and diversity. Your continued support keeps us going and for now we are going mostly with tradition.
We value your comments, so please let us know what you think.
NEWS FLASH – This just in. Sit at the Table has been selected to help Santa Inc. find more women for our Board. We are especially excited to have a Canadian partner for this effort, as our northern neighbors may be more willing to travel to the North Pole for our annual meeting. We have asked our partner to speak with Gwyn Teatro from You’re Not the Boss of Me, as a bit of bossiness may go a long way to keep our board members on track.