It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The smell of pine, cinnamon, and fresh-baked cookies are in the air. The jingle bells are ring-ting-tingling. And we’re all reflecting on months past and looking ahead to what the new year will bring.
2018 was quite a year for the TopRank Marketing team. We had the pleasure of working with an incredible book of clients—both longtime partners and new favorites. We welcomed new incredibly smart and talented team members, and said goodbye to some who went on to make their marks on different industries and brands. And 2019 looks awesomely bright, as we gear up for more projects and grow our team.
To celebrate the year, the holiday season, and each other, the TopRank Marketing team enjoyed a few days of festive fun. Take a peek!
Hot Cocoa & Ugly Sweater Day
What better way to enjoy each other’s company than to drink delicious hot cocoa?
Just one thing. Drinking hot cocoa while admiring each other’s fantastically awful holiday sweaters.
Patrick, delightfully pictured in his “Santa Cool” sweater and a very serious face (front right), was the crowd favorite—earning him an Amazon gift card.
The Back-By-Popular-Demand Christmas Cookie Exchange
Weeks before the holiday season commenced, many of our team members had their eyes on the prize. Several times I was asked if there would be another Christmas cookie extravaganza, so it had to happen.
Traditional chocolate chip bites. Sinfully soft and sweet pumpkin treats. Tasty white chocolate chip and cranberry delicacies. Our team members brought their A-game to the cookie exchange.
Oh, and there were also Cheez-It-approved, peanut-butter chocolate sammiches.
Super Santa Sweep
Limited to a handful of television viewing options, as a kid my sister and I watched several game shows to pass the time when we were kids—and Supermarket Sweep was a top favorite. (Go for the hams!)
So, when it came time to plan an activity that would be engaging and help us spread some holiday cheer to those who need it most, Super Santa Sweep was born.
After heading to a local Target store, we broke into teams and each team was given a targeted shopping list. Teams were required to:
- Get at least one of each item.
- Stay together as a team (i.e. no dividing and conquering).
- Complete their shopping in less than 15 minutes.
The team that came the closest to their budgets without going over would get a special prize.
Between the four teams, the dollar spread was roughly $5, with Team No. 2 reigning supreme—knocking out Team 1 thanks to a register error. Here’s Team 1 nervously waiting for the total to come up …
The best part? All of the items—everyday items such as toiletries, hats and gloves, towels, and cleaning supplies—were donated to Simpson Housing Services, a local nonprofit that helps transition folks out of homelessness. And when we brought the goodies to their staging place, we were informed that some of the items we brought were in need that very day, allowing us to make an immediate impact.
White Elephant Gift Exchange
The White Elephant Gift Exchange was an absolute riot. Team members were instructed to bring a wrapped, new or gently used item of their choice to pass on to another team member. We drew numbers and, in order, selected our gift of choice and unwrapped it for all to see.
Once all the gifts were unwrapped, in reverse order, team members could challenge another team member for a chance to steal their gift. The challenge? Best of 3 rock-paper-scissors.
The most coveted gifts included a Christmas cactus, a battery-operated microphone that could be used as a megaphone or app-enabled karaoke prop, and an 80s music trivia game.
Pajama Day & Movie Day
In the spirit of cozying up for a few laughs and snacks, the team was encouraged to wear their favorite fluffy PJs and gather in the conference room to watch a holiday flick. After a very close voting process, Elf was the selected movie for our viewing pleasure. And of course, there was popcorn, soda, cookies, and candy to snack on.
Sorry. I didn’t get a picture. I was too caught up in the magical moments.
Happy Holidays from Our Team to Yours
We’re so grateful for each other and the wonderful clients, thought leaders, and friends we’ve worked and grown with this year. So, from our family of marketers to yours, Happy Holidays!
Join the TopRank Marketing Fun All Year Long
We’re hiring! Yay! Check out our Careers page for a full list of openings.
