Why REI’s Black Friday #OptOutside Matters
John Chen, CSP?
??Designer, ??producer, ??Certified Speaking Professional, ??emcee for ??Engaging ??????Virtual & Hybrid Meetings. I wrote the #1?? Amazon ??Hot-New Release ??book on Engaging Virtual Meetings.
It matters to you and your loved ones.
Everybody is talking about REI’s decision to close both its real and virtual doors and #OptOutside on Black Friday.
People want to know:
- Why did they really do it?
- What about the loss in sales?
- Does it make sense?
We should applaud REI. Four reasons REI's decision is brilliant:
- It demonstrates leadership. It’s a bold idea that all company leaders, and their board of directors, agreed to.
- It’s authentic. It aligns with their values. It’s not a political ploy or marketing stunt. It’s who they are. It’s who they’ve always been, as you can see this message earlier this year where REI President and CEO said, “We believe a life outdoors is a life well-lived.”
- Getting outside alters your perspective. Stop the madness, no more trampling people at the stores! Spend time playing with people you love – your kids, family, friends or your dog – and create a shared experience.
- REI put its money where its mouth is. REI has voted with its dollars by paying people to stay away from work for a day. It’s not just a day off, it’s a paid day off. Do the math.
REI announced it will pay 12,000 workers to not work on November 27. We don’t know how much their employees make, but we can guess how much this one paid day off will cost the company. According to the Social Security Administration, the national average wage for 2014 was 46,481.52.
$46,000/ year divided by 2,080 work hours/ year = $22/ hour
$22/ hour X 8 hours = $176/ day
12,000 employees X $176/ day = $2,112,000
Mathematically, this decision looks crazy. It’s actually pure genius.
We can estimate that REI will spend more than $2 million dollars for its 12,000 workers to #OptOutside on Black Friday. This is before the sales REI will lose that same day, one of their biggest revenue days of the year. But I don’t think they will lose anything. I predict their gains will exceed their losses; I think they’ll get it all back – and more – in employee and customer loyalty.
I started my company, Geoteaming, 18 years ago, for many of the same reasons. I knew that to help people, teams and companies truly experience breakthroughs and bigger results, they needed to #OptOutside.
I was leading teams at Microsoft, when...
I spent a weekend with a business coach, OUTSIDE, and I had an epic ‘Jerry Maguire’ moment of clarity.
I ‘retired’ from Microsoft early to pursue my passions…the outdoors, technology and learning. And Geoteaming was born.
We have seen time and time again, that when people get outside, they learn life lessons that stay with them forever – personally and professionally.
We vote yes with REI to #OptOutside on Black Friday.
John, I think there are two parts...if authenticity vibrates through out the organization, there is no need to put on a list because the organization is living it, whether it is on some list or not. If one choose to put on the list but there is no heart behind it, it will be just another line item on the list that has no real meaning because it is people behavior that gives it meaning and not dictionary....and putting on the list without true heart behind it an insult to employees. So I am glad it is not on the list if there is no heart behind it,.
Amplified Research and Consulting || American University || InspireDC || "Questions > Answers"
9 年But I bet you can catch major deals on their website that day
Strategic Executive Leadership Development Practitioner and Coach
9 年So proud to be a part of this company!
Global Executive Sales Leader; Curator of Inspiring and Innovative Solutions; Purpose Driven and People Centric
9 年#OptOutside a perfect way to express gratitude during Thanksgiving weekend! Well done REI. Well done John, as you continue to be authentic to who you are and help others learn about themselves too.
??Designer, ??producer, ??Certified Speaking Professional, ??emcee for ??Engaging ??????Virtual & Hybrid Meetings. I wrote the #1?? Amazon ??Hot-New Release ??book on Engaging Virtual Meetings.
9 年Thanks Andrea Ballard, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, we were astounded by the math, and that's pre sales impact!!