October 2007

Happy October! We are bearing down on the Holiday season aren't we? It will be here before you know it. Mrs. Claus tells me that there are already Christmas decorations for sale in the stores in the US and Canada. Its not even Halloween? Way too early, if you ask me. Just one more sign that Christmas has become too commercial.

Normally I would be excited about being on the verge of the Christmas season, but not this year. Only because the IFE (International Fraternity of Elves) strike is continuing. Our Christmas Eve deliveries are in serious jeopardy. With the opening of our outsource faclity in India last month and two additional facilities (one in China, one in Eastern Europe) coming online this month, we can make - or acquire through toy manufacturers - enough product to fill about 70% of the wish lists. We may not be able to deliver it though. Our entire distribution network is at a stand still with the strike. If the strike is not resolved soon, we may have to call off this year's operation.

I have met with several elves this month that approached me privately and confidentially. They have all stated that they want to come back to work. And they believe that the vast majority of elves feel the same way as they do. Jingle has been telling me all along that this strike is really being instigated by Jimmy Holiday, the IFE president, with the purpose of serving his own self-interests and not the elves. I am beginning to suspect Jingle is correct. I have an emergency meeting with my direct reports scheduled for tomorrow where we will discuss our strategy for getting Jimmy to the negotiating table. For the past few weeks, he has refused to negotiate. I'll update you next month on our progress unless something breaks and we'll update the blog immediately. Enjoy the autumn!