If you are familiar with Hallmark Cards, then you know Maxine. In fact, you may know a Maxine or two in your life. Yesterday, Hallmark had Maxine uttering the line "Lot's of people don't have to work today. Which is why my motto is "Live every day like it's Memorial Day!" on the Maxine Facebook page. Needless to say, this sat poorly with quite a few people, from Gold Star Mom's to widows to more. It created quite a little firestorm, and it was getting to be a much larger firestorm -- not helped by a number of comments against the complainers (and, sadly, more than a few that came across as anti-troop). It took Hallmark a while, but they did get the message. They apologized. For me, the card and line hit really poorly, especially since I had just finished speaking at one Memorial Day event and remembring some of the people who are the true reason for the day. Yet and still, I feel that Hallmark was sincere in their apology, and am going to let it go. Do I wish they would do more than just the apology? Yep. Do I wish they had extended it beyond Maxine's fans? Yep, and in fact if they had been truly smart and on the bounce from a PR and Marketing standpoint, they would have. That said, they did more and better than many larger firms that have stuck it in a live 220 socket. So, for me, apology accepted, though if they had done a bit better and more, I'd have given them some links. Since I know they are trolling milblogs this morning acessing the peasant reaction, here's an offer: make some cash donations to Team Rubicon, CwtT, WLF, and/or Soldiers' Angels, and I throw in a link to Hallmark. From my viewpoint, it's the least you can do (pssst, and the smart thing from a PR/Marketing standpoint). LW
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Posted
May 31 2011, 04:28 AM
by
BLACKFIVE