Just in Time for the Holidays

‘Tis the season for holiday cheer! But what do we do when arguably the best time of the year for reconnecting and coming together over hot cocoa, holiday lights and big ol’ family dinners isn’t an option? While it’s been an arduous year with unpredictable twists and turns, we continue to find ways to readjust, be resilient and come out on top – to the best of our abilities.

So, bring on the holiday decorations, indulgent food, virtual Santa visits and office parties because – let’s be honest – we need it this year more than ever. Here are some creative ways companies and brands are offering consumers and employees some holiday cheer. 

MACY’S

We may not be getting the miracle on 34th street we needed this year, but that won’t be stopping Macy’s. After 160 years of in-store Santa visits, Macy’s is bringing Santaland to your living room in their new online virtual experience. Macy’s hits it home with their online Santa’s Toy Shop, a tour of Dickens Village from A Christmas Carol and a virtual Macy’s Center City light show concert, but it doesn’t end there!

The company also teamed up with partners like Entenmann’s, Balsam Hill, Hallmark Channel and the Elf on the Shelf to provide a curated round-up of holiday recipes, at-home activities and entertainment to keep families busy with holiday joy all month long.

OFFICE PARTIES

In-person holiday office parties are sadly another 2020 misfortune. But after nine months of Zoom cocktail hours, PayPal is taking their virtual celebration to the next level with a 29-hour global virtual party for their 25,000 employees.

PayPal kicked off planning for their “All Together Gathering: A PayPal December to Remember” back in April and worked to incorporate their offices from across the world. The immersive holiday experience will include everything from cooking and origami classes, to musical performances and magic shows. To accompany the day, each employee will also be receiving a company gift sourced from local businesses.

This could quite possibly be the most extravagant virtual event in history, but it’s an opportunity to bring people together in an exciting and unique way.

TREE DELIVERY

Shopping in-store still isn’t an option for many and with Covid-19 spikes across the country, some are opting out of traditions like in-person holiday shopping and heading online instead. But what if there was a way to get your holiday decorations and Christmas tree online too?

Thanks to Home Depot and businesses like the Brown’s Tree Farm, you can have a real, fresh cut tree delivered to your front door. And to bring some much needed holiday cheer, Lowe’s partnered with the NFL and nonprofit organizations to deliver pre-lit trees to families impacted by the pandemic.  

This year has been rocky, but companies are continuing to adapt to help consumers experience that comfort and joy that is synonymous with this time of year. We may not be ringing in the holidays and New Year with 100 people in a packed restaurant, stuffing our faces with every aunt, uncle, cousin, second cousin, brother and sister at a holiday dinner, or hitting up the annual office party. We can, however, ring in the holidays with gratitude and appreciation. Happy holidays!

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