Just Born Team Members Photo Courtesy of API saw a news story last night that I had to share with you. Not because it is some brilliant new information or the greatest new Pet Product or even about even about a company who slammed past their sales goal for the year. In fact it is about a company who didn't quite make it all the way to their goal but in doing so received so much more social media time then if they had. If the employees at Just Born Candy Company (they are the makers of Hot Tamales and Peeps just to name a few treats) had met their sales goal for the year they would be sitting on a beach in Hawaii soaking up the sun on the vacation of a lifetime. The rest of us would be jealous that they are in the hot sun while we freeze and well there would not really be a story there.
But they didn't meet the goal their company set for them and instead are on the "punishment" trip that none of them will soon forget. The one that has made news headlines and put the Company and their sales team in the Social Media forefront. They are on their company retreat in Fargo, North Dakota and all smiles. Not just because I can guarantee with all the press they are getting that people are out there buying their candy today (sales probably skyrocketed) but because it was Social Media genius.
"Slow candy sales mean goodbye Hawaii, aloha Fargo!"
It was the headline along with the smiling faces of employees peering out from their fleece jacket and bomber hat swag gifts that really caught our attention. The story has managed to receive 333 Tweets and 5633 Facebook Shares not to mention all the Retweets and shares from friends profiles and blogs that ran with the story all since a little before 7pm last night. Just Born was able to pull off a Social Media triumph. Not to mention that now we will all be watching and cheering on the Sales Team so they can make it to Hawaii next year. Their "punishment" trip has landed the company a year of FREE media attention.
Hats off to you Just Born, really well played!
So Just Born do you have a Social Media Dream Team behind this? If not give me a call its time to capitalize on what you just achieved.