Happy Holidays

Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Buon Natale, Feliz Natal, Crăciun Fericit, God Jul, Glædelig Jul, Hyvää Joulua, Gleðileg Jólm, Wesołych Świąt, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Sretan Božić, Veselé Vánoce, Felicem Natalem Christi, Nollaig Shona 

Happy Christmas🎅

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Happy Christmas

Tezze Iliniz. Yahsi Olsun. Vesele Vanoce. Tchestita Koleda. Gladelig Jul. Roomsaid Joulu Puhi. Mitho Makosi. Sretan Bozic. Feliz Navidad. Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova. Bada Din Mubarak Ho. Joyeux Noel. Merry Keshmish. Mele Kalikimaka. Merry Christmas. Hyvaa joulua. Buon Natale. Wesolych Swiat. Bozego Narodzenia. Feliz Natal. Craciun Fericit. Krismasi Njema. Froehliche Weihnachten. Srozhdestvom Kristovym.


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Let's Raise a Glass!

Whether you celebrate it or not, it’s impossible to miss the annual onslaught that is the Christmas season. The stores are filled with brightly colored signs and packages, the websites are littered with Holiday specials, and seasonal music is everywhere.

This is the season of parties and get-togethers and – to some – the dreaded company gathering. The mood can be a bit lighter. You may be getting together with clients and customers for a celebratory lunch or beverage. And things may slow down just a bit.

Take a moment...

While you are lifting that cup of cheer, remember one important element which is the people you work and collaborate with because without them, none of this would be possible. That’s not just an overused cliché, it’s the truth.

For many I know, this has been a roller coaster year. Perhaps for you too. Take that well-deserved breath and thank the people in your life, on your team, at your workplace, and yourself for a job well done. And let's remember this in a few months when busy gets in the way of the important stuff.

And please celebrate responsibly!
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Happy Christmas

Feliz Navidad. Selamat Hari Natal. Joyeux Noël. Gleðileg jól. Nollaig Shona.
Wesołych Świąt. Fröhliche Weihnachten. Merry Christmas. Vrolijk Kerstfeest.
Hyvää Joulua. Buon Natale. Feliz Natal. Boldog Karácsonyt. Namaste.





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Credits: Walt Disney, Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, Marilyn Manson, Sting, Brian Sezter, Dropkick Murphys

Happy Christmas

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Kneale Mann

Pogues | Kirsty MacColl

The Season of People

Whether you celebrate it or not, it’s impossible to miss the annual onslaught that is the Christmas season. The stores are filled with brightly colored signs and packages, the websites are littered with Holiday specials, and seasonal music is everywhere.

This is the season of parties and get-togethers and – to some – the dreaded company gathering. The mood can be a bit lighter. You may be getting together with clients and customers for a celebratory lunch or beverage. And things may slow down just a bit.

Take a Moment

While you are lifting that cup of cheer, remember one important element which is the people you work and collaborate with because without them, none of this would be possible. That’s not just an overused cliché, it’s the truth.

For many I know, this has been a roller coaster year. Perhaps for you too. Take a moment, take that well-deserved breath and thank the people in your life, on your team, at your workplace, and yourself for a job well done. And let's remember this in a few months when busy gets in the way of the important stuff.

And please celebrate responsibly!
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Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit

yoann jezequel

A Gift Idea

Canadian television personality and comedian Rick Mercer has a wonderful gift idea this year for all of us. We have enough coffee mugs.

Watch this


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Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.

Rick Mercer

A Day to Celebrate

Generous estimates put the number of people who celebrate Christmas at about a third of the world’s population. Some extend their celebrations to boxes of chocolate and elaborate meals, brightly wrapped gifts and a cup of good cheer. While others pay respects in a more religious way. And of course, many do a mix of both.

If you celebrate, please make it a safe and fun one!


Kneale Mann

Pearl Jam

It's a New Year - Now What?

To millions, Christmas and New Year's are the most depressing and stressful events of the year. We have created expectations that far exceed what we may be able to replicate in reality and it can be tough.

The old adage that you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family rings true for too many and that includes the workplace. My Holidays were filled with time spent in person, on phone and online to catch up with some of my favourite people. I hope you did the same. Not just at this time of year!

Later is Now

Most are back to work today looking at a list made in the haze of too much champagne that has now been added to the growing catalogue of items left to get to after the Holidays. If you're one of them, now is the time to decipher whether you made the to-do list to really do now or simply procrastinate in December.

Lists are simple to make. I have made more than my share over the years. They are filled with promise and possibilities written in a brave moment of clarity meant to push me through to completion only to fall short because the action was far more involved than writing about it. Let's try less and actually do more.

Ready?

Kneale Mann

image credit: animationideas

Happy Christmas

Kneale Mann

visual credit: Coldplay

Shopping More or Less This Year?

As millions race around today to do their final shopping and preparations for the big day tomorrow, some interesting statistics were released last month from Nielsen.

Of the online survey participants from fifty-six countries, almost half planned on spending around the same on Christmas as last year and a quarter expected to spend less. Eleven percent claimed they will spend more than they did in 2010.

Some More. Some Less. Some Same.

Of those who expected to spend more in 2011 for Holiday gifts, the majority are in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions while Europe dominates the top countries where survey participants were planning to spend less this year.

Asia Pacific participants listed technology, apparel, books, vacations and jewellery. European participants listed books, toys, technology, apparel and vacations. Latin America included apparel, vacations, technology and bedroom/bathroom accessories.

Middle Easterners and Asians had technology, apparel, books and bedroom/bathroom accessories. North Americans listed toys, gift cards, technology, apparel and video games/consoles. And online shopping continues to increase which may surprise you if you are shopping today in the last mad dash so be careful out there!

If you celebrate, have a great Christmas!

Kneale Mann

image credit: Nielsen

Procrastination: The Business Strategy

I posted this list last year. Christmas is a month away.
Do any of these sound familiar?

• We want to make some changes, but we’ll talk about it after Christmas.

• Let’s reconvene after the Holidays.

• There’s no way we can get to that until the New Year.

• I doubt we’ll have time to give that much thought until January

• There are too many distractions this time of year.

• That is a great idea. Let’s table it for the first quarter.

• Let’s wait. It’s crazy right now and the Holidays are coming up.

• There’s no time to deal with that at this time of year.

• We don’t look at any new business in December.

• We're too busy for that now.

• How about we wait until we can have a good look at this after the break.

• Nothing happens this time of year.

• We can’t handle new business opportunities until after Christmas.

Is there an opportunity for you to get to it now?

Kneale Mann

image credit: simplyzesty | original: dec 2010

Boxing Day | Shopping Day?

It is also a day to remember the millions of people who aren't so fortunate and in harm’s way. I watched CNN Heroes last night and that is a show that can give us some needed perspective. We can stop our whining now.

Year End Blowout!

In many areas of the world, today is Boxing Day. This is a tradition that began long before iPads and flat screens. It started centuries ago in many European countries as the “second Christmas” for those less fortunate. Gifts and necessities were delivered in boxes by those who were of means to do so.

Limited Time Offer!

In Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and now the U.S., today and the rest of this coming week is huge for retail. Some claim the best bargains of the year happen right now. We can discuss the science of sales and the tactic of giving the impression of a great price another time. Urgency is the order of the day and it's crunch time.

Everything Must Go!

From Cadillacs to candy canes, everything that can be exchanged for money is tied to the shopping season of late November to early January. Many companies make or break their year during this sliver of time each year and Christmas is no longer the only objective. The next seven days are crucial so the "deals" will be "everywhere".

Sale Sale Sale!

Economic movement is a good thing, but perhaps we can also spend some of our down time this year on some work. And then perhaps as the credit card bills come in and we emerge from a pumpkin pie haze, we will be ready to get stuff done in January.

Some of us are open for business next week, but I digress.

As we search for a great price on items we don't need, perhaps we should focus a little time on what we do need.  

knealemann | email


image credit: flickr

Reflective Time

Something happens this time of year.

Obviously, Christmas is not celebrated by everyone but the business world is ruled by two dates around this time of year. And if you have spent any time doing any last minute shopping, we may wonder how far from the original meaning of the Holidays some have gotten. We push envelopes with communications and information but some traditions are deep rooted such as turkey and stuffing and brightly wrapped gifts.

Celebrations increase and the mood leans positive. I have too many people to thank here and would hate to miss someone but the number of people who I have had the privilege to meet through business and the social web is absolutely astounding. And if you have spent any time doing any last minute shopping, one could certainly wonder how far from the original meaning of the Holidays most have gotten.

Review. Recharge. Reload.

There is hope for a fresh new year around the corner and some new challenges to tackle with renewed energy. The world has limped through tough economic times – and perhaps simply because I’m looking for it – many look to 2011 with optimism.

I loved Mitch Joel’s post today about the myth of a work/life balance. This is our lives, this is our work, this is our world. I do take it personally and so should you. But in all of this, we can build that community and kick some serious backsides together.

Happy Holidays :-)

knealemann | email


image credit: pluggd

Virtual Malls and Other Fun Holiday Treats

If you celebrate Christmas and have had the pleasure of visiting one of your local retail outlets in the last couple of weeks, you know that you are certainly not alone with regards to leaving the shopping list until the last minute. It is crunch time, the last weekend before the big day and the race is on.


Stores and malls are crawling with people these days. Each purchase may not be as large as it was three years ago and the average shopper may not be spending as much overall, but that does not have much relevance as you are trying desperately to find a parking spot at the mall this weekend.

The Virtual Parking Space

Changes on the web happen faster than we can seem to measure but there is ample evidence to prove that those malls and shops would be even busier without the invention of online shopping.

Here are some highlights from a Statistics Canada report on online shopping from last year.

In 2009, Canadians spent $15 Billion in online purchases with an average of $150 a pop. 51% were aged 16-34, travel and events were the biggest sellers while men bought electronics online at a rate of 2:1 to women.

Search. Seek. Shop.

To think that online purchases are replacing in-store sales is not quite the case. In fact, almost 70% of those who search for an item online then buy it at the retail location. Which points to the necessity of a solid web presence and great customer service. As well, evidence is certainly showing that those numbers will be moving around for a while as we buy more large ticket items from the comfort of our sweat pants.

Zappos is an online shoe retailer that has been used countless times to illustrate how to build a successful online business. One critical element of their success is filling orders quickly and accurately.

They began with securing major delivery hubs so they could back up their promise. Zappos doesn’t discount, they don’t deal but they give superior service right to your door. And for that, millions have responded.

Consumer reaction is influenced more by peer groups 
than external persuasion.

Groupon was just named the fastest start-up to reach $1 Billion in sales in just two years. It has grown so quickly that Google recently offered founder Andrew Mason
$6 Billion for control of the company and he turned them down.

The online search has become the growing entry point which is why search engine optimization has exploded. However if you don't know what customers are searching for, all the tricks in said book won't help.

TripAdvisor, Yelp, FourSquare and many other social networking sites are tapping into the intersection of online and on-site buying habits but security, convenience, choice, return policy and proximity are all valid reasons why after some online research, most still head to the mall. For now...

Happy shopping!

knealemann | email


image credit: istock

Can It Wait Until January?

This is a interesting time of year. The parties are starting to happen, people are distracted by shopping lists and family commitments. And yes, there is more to life than work. But it's almost as if some have decided to let the clock run out on 2010.


It's that time of year when you hear some familiar phrases...

• We want to make some changes, but we’ll talk about it after Christmas.

• Let’s reconvene after the Holidays.

• There’s no way we can get to that until the New Year.

• I doubt we’ll have time to give that much thought until January

• There are too many distractions this time of year.

• That is a great idea. Let’s table it for the first quarter.

• Let’s wait. It’s crazy right now and the Holidays are coming up.

• There’s no time to deal with that right now.

• We don’t look at any new business in December.

• How about we wait until we can have a good look at this after the break.

• Nothing happens this time of year.

• We can’t handle new business opportunities until after Christmas.

Is there an opportunity for you to get to it now?

knealemann | email


image credit: upstart

Can Urgency Be Created?

Everything Must Go

The Christmas retail season begins moments after the last trick or treaters are on their way home and ends on Christmas Eve as the stores lock their doors for the night.

This Week Only

This weekend, the stores will be filled with people returning and exchanging Christmas gifts while the retail industry settles in for a long winter’s nap. But in some countries there is one final push to create just a little bit more urgency.
Boxes to Bargains

In the UK, Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, Germany and a few others, today is Boxing Day. Originally called St. Steven’s Day, this was when the upper class would give gifts such as clothing and food to the lower classes in boxes for easy transport.

Save up to 80% Today Only

Christmas is on the 25th of December and Boxing Day is on the 26th. But years ago, the retail industry decided to extend the ask and create an even large sense of urgency and excitement with the creation of Boxing Week which began well before Christmas. It's akin to retailers 'chopping down prices' to celebrate the birth of George Washington.

Savings Are Store Wide

If you attempt to create a sense of urgency during your Boxing Week sale, are you not telling customers that your profit margins are too high the rest of the year or that the best time to buy from you is during this limited time?

Boxing Week is a multi-billion dollar event.

Earlier today, Margie Osmond from the Australian National Retailers Association said "We've had a fabulous healthy start to Boxing Day sales which is the biggest shopping day of the year."

Some economists predict that the countries that have adopted the Boxing Week model will see an economic correction from the downturn the rest of this year. It appears that St. Steven has done well for the bottom line.

Perhaps Obama should put it on the to-do list for 2010?

How can you apply this to your business?

@knealemann

image credit: lowbrowstyle

Keeping Score at Christmas

It’s Christmas Day and for about half the planet it is a religious day and a day of celebration.

It is also a day of dealing with family members you may not like (keep in mind, they may not like you), expectations set out from the world of marketing and movies, overeating and depression, loneliness and hope.


It Ain't About The Money

I promise not to be another writer commenting about how this annual celebration has turned in to such a commercial and emotional plot twist.

Let’s use today to hit the reset button and figure out what is important to each of us. It’s not the pretty wrapped packages or the traffic jams at mall entrances. It’s lovely to find that special gift for that special someone but is that the real reason we do all this?

Keeping Score

Charlie spent $50 on me and I got him that stupid pen. I wonder what color shirt mom will get me this year; I almost have a complete set. There are too many to buy for, let’s draw names. Do we have to get him something, I don’t even like him. I hope Uncle Brian isn’t going say something inappropriate at Christmas dinner – he did do that thing back in ’91.

Eat too much, hug those you love, extend a hand to those in need and I hope you have a Happy Christmas :-)

@knealemann

image credit: therealmimi

What Is Your Holiday Greeting Prefence?

Email or snail mail. Festive tweet or Christmas card.

It was a difficult year but perhaps we can chalk it up to character building? Let’s go with that. As 2009 draws to an end, some good cheer is being exchanged.

I was speaking with a colleague last week and she had to cut the call short because she had to go write out client Christmas cards.

Then I wondered if we prefer cards or emails or e-cards or Facebook wall posts or think the electronic idea is better for the environment or is it simply important that the message is sent no matter the medium?

It was time for an impromptu Twitter poll. I wondered if you preferred a festive email or card in the mail or did it matter. A shout-out to mom who has been doing cards for decades - received mine last week.

This survey was held at around 8:15am on December 14, 2009 for about ten minutes – aka very official and highly scientific.

Here are the results...

@TWalk I don't send holiday cards, personal or business. Try to keep up with friends year-round.

@Thebookmaven I can't resist real cards in the mail. But some festive/photo emails are really terrific.

@mdbenoit2 Definitely card in the mail.

@SuzeMuse I am pretty proud of myself that I managed to send a few Christmas cards this year.

@tommyvaller I'm going to vote festive coffee or beer meeting. I'd much rather spend 10 minutes in person than any time on the phone. I'm sending the paper ones out today and prefer getting the paper kind, personally.

@fendergurl email always makes it there on time. (maybe a better 'green' holiday option)

@Robbie_J still love the hands-on feel of a proper Christmas card.

@slboval Post please. I am traditional that way.

@HeatherLeson Both. I have a large number of elderly relatives who love hand-written cards. Plus, there's a certain charm in getting mail.

@carolinekealey We did a donation to Snowsuit Fund and an e-card this year, and got lots of positive feedback for the eco-friendly switch

@Florina_B My choice: holiday cards on paper, more personalized...brings more joy

@ivan007 cards please

@AvrilAutopsy I'm old fashioned I like snail mail

@LizScherer I bought cards but have yet to write them. A festive email might suffice. Not mass tho - individual.

@wojtekhoch Both. I do both e-cards and Physical mail. There is something special about handwritten cards.

@Hannechr Prefer to give the greeting in person; but a card is always nice.

@joshchandler Festive email. Ha, there's no original thought or effort made, just electronic bits on a screen (lame!).

@gwenmccauley Holiday cards in the mail or festive email. What is your preference? I prefer to ignore Christmas!

@Lissansky Cards for the bosses, festive Facebook wall posts for everyone else :)

@OttMomGo Send cards in mail and like to get same. Get few email

@kbleggett As green as I try to be I still send out Xmas cards every year to family & friends around the globe.

@KarenHooper Still love to get Christmas cards in the mail.

What is your Holiday greeting preference?

@knealemann
marketing and social media strategy

image credits: twitter | ebay.com.au

Boxing Day and Bargain Hunters

If you live in Canada, New Zealand, Britain or Australia, today is Boxing Day.
If you are so included, happy shopping!

The Origin of Boxing Day
This tradition dates back hundreds of years and refers to the day after Christmas when servants – who had to work on Dec 25th for their employers – were given a day to visit their families, have their festive celebration and bring gifts or “boxes” to their loved ones.

In modern times, Boxing Day used to be one day. And there was a build up. This was the day many would spend cash they received as Christmas gifts and the deals were actually deals.

Introducing: Boxing Month
Nowadays, Boxing Day seems to begin around the middle of December and lasts until mid-February. That makes about as much sense as slashing prices because it’s Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

The Bargain Hunter
This year, this normally fearless wonder runs risk of landing on the endangered species list. This creature – indigenous to retail and online monetary exchange environments – has been blessed with a sixth sense for deals.

It can take on a multitude of human forms and is not fooled by empty promises and orange signs with words scrawled “final markdown” on them. The number of Bargain Hunters is down this year, some may be hibernating early and some may not return. However unlike most of the endangered list, the Bargain Hunter is a resilient creature. But we can still not assume they will return in droves.

Supply and Demand are Half-Brothers
Marketing and Branding are interesting industries. It is our job to create a need for a product the potential customer may not need nor know exists.

Need vs. Want
There is an interesting phrase that has bounced around through the years in marketing and branding that is “creating a need”. When you are hungry, you have a basic human need to eat. However indulging in a triple fudge sundae with whipped cream and cherries is not what you need. Sounds good though, doesn’t it? None of us need a Porsche but the company that builds them hopes some will feel the want which will be enough to create even a false need.

They Will Always Be There
There is a reliance that the Bargain Hunter will thrive in this environment. Because the only thing that is important is getting a good deal, right? Wrong.

The Bargain Hunter is wise to the tactics and schemes. He or she is also leery about the financial future and may no longer simply buy everything in their path.

How will you change your business model to adapt to a more careful and savvy customer base?

km