Blog & Company News
Nov 18, 2015
Happy Holidays?
As the 2015 holiday season ramps up, we find ourselves wondering: what is the best way to market to customers?
The holidays are a fairly touchy subject. In a poll conducted by Pew Research Center of 35,000 Americans in all 50 states, 70% of the country identified as Christian. The next most identified religious group in the country (22%) is “Unaffiliated.” So, is it even fair to base all marketing and displays around Christmas?
Recently Starbucks released their holiday drink cup. In past years, Starbucks has decorated its cups with ornaments and Christmas trees, this year the design is just a deep solid red.
Josh Feuerstein, an avid social media poster (and Fred Durst look-a-like). Decided to post a video on his Facebook page urging people to boycott Starbucks and its non-Christmas flashing cup. The video of Feuerstein speaking in frustration, dawning a Jesus shirt and bragging how he "conned" the barista into writing Merry Christmas on his cup, went viral.
Feuerstein argues that being politically correct is taking Christmas out of the Holidays. Some Americans echo Feuerstein's disappointment in the decision of private businesses' to tame down overtly Christmas messaging, they see it as a move to "take the Christ out of Christmas." Others view it as opening the Holidays to all religions and people.
The First Amendment of our Constitution allows for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. Therefore when it comes to marketing for the holidays, say “Merry Christmas” if you want, write “Happy New Years”, wish people a Happy Hanukkah or even just a Happy Winters Day. Know your customer base, know your region. Do what feels right for you, and what is best for your business.
As the 2015 holiday season ramps up, we find ourselves wondering: what is the best way to market to customers?
The holidays are a fairly touchy subject. In a poll conducted by Pew Research Center of 35,000 Americans in all 50 states, 70% of the country identified as Christian. The next most identified religious group in the country (22%) is “Unaffiliated.” So, is it even fair to base all marketing and displays around Christmas?
Recently Starbucks released their holiday drink cup. In past years, Starbucks has decorated its cups with ornaments and Christmas trees, this year the design is just a deep solid red.
Josh Feuerstein, an avid social media poster (and Fred Durst look-a-like). Decided to post a video on his Facebook page urging people to boycott Starbucks and its non-Christmas flashing cup. The video of Feuerstein speaking in frustration, dawning a Jesus shirt and bragging how he "conned" the barista into writing Merry Christmas on his cup, went viral.
Feuerstein argues that being politically correct is taking Christmas out of the Holidays. Some Americans echo Feuerstein's disappointment in the decision of private businesses' to tame down overtly Christmas messaging, they see it as a move to "take the Christ out of Christmas." Others view it as opening the Holidays to all religions and people.
The First Amendment of our Constitution allows for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. Therefore when it comes to marketing for the holidays, say “Merry Christmas” if you want, write “Happy New Years”, wish people a Happy Hanukkah or even just a Happy Winters Day. Know your customer base, know your region. Do what feels right for you, and what is best for your business. 
