How One Company Is Putting the Thanks in Thanksgiving

In a brave and brilliant move, REI President and CEO Jerry Stritzke is closing all 143 REI stores on Black Friday and starting a new Thanksgiving tradition for his outdoor apparel and gear company: encouraging employees and customers to spend the day enjoying the outdoors.
It’s called #OptOutside.
Why the change? Stritzke decided it was time to draw a line against the excess commercialization of Thanksgiving.
“It’s an act where we’re really making a very clear statement of our values,” Stritzke told USA TODAY.
According to USA TODAY’s Hadley Malcolm, REI will not have any Black Friday promotions — even online orders will wait for Saturday processing! Just a small handful of REI’s 12,000 employees will be on call, while the rest get a paid day off.
#OptOutside is a bold and authentic statement that exemplifies the REI company brand. REI is putting the thanks back in Thanksgiving!
The gThankYou! team believes that Thanksgiving is an enduring tradition because of its focus on family, expressions of gratitude, and time spend counting the good things in life. In the workplace, Thanksgiving is about appreciating the importance of employees, customers and suppliers to us and to our company.

Will YOu be Putting the Thanks in Thanksgiving this Year?

What can you do to put the thanks in Thanksgiving in your workplace?
It’s not hard! Simply support your community and involve others:

• Contribute to local food pantries
• Volunteer to serve the Thanksgiving meal at a shelter or deliver Meals On Wheels
• Pack donation baskets for local distribution at your church or community center
• Provide employees with holiday time off

Most importantly, thank everyone who helps your business succeed every day. Emphasize your gratitude by sharing the centerpiece of the holiday meal with employees: give gThankYou! Turkey Gift Certificates.
It’s not too late to share the thoughtful gift of a turkey this Thanksgiving!
To order your gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude today, visit our website — gthankyou.com — or call 888-484-1658. We would be honored to help you thank your workplace this holiday season.
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About gThankYou, LLC
Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.
gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime. gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And nearly all orders ship same day.
gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-970-6773.
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