Creating a Holiday Experience for Your Business

Every industry celebrates the holidays in its own way. Some industries, like retail, have the benefit of being able to fully celebrate the holiday season while they focus their efforts on the holiday experience. The hospitality industry can enhance their lobbies with warm and comfortable decorations to make visitors feel more welcome. Whatever the industry may be, people experience the holidays differently and it is important to remember why businesses do what they do during this season.

For most workers, holiday pay and time off are available. However, the holidays affect each industry differently. Businesses may have different store hours and some may even consider taking entire days off because it may not be worth staying open. Then some industries, like healthcare and hospitality, remain open because people always have needs for medical care, food and housing.

Fortunately, most organizations can celebrate the holidays in many creative ways. The most noticeable way everyone observes the holiday experience is by decorating. When businesses decorate, it makes the workplace happier and brightens everyone’s mood who sees them. Businesses also contribute to the holiday experience through their marketing and advertising campaigns. This includes providing a festive touch to holiday campaigns as they benefit companies while they boost sales and brand visibility.

These are just a few ways businesses can celebrate the holidays, but there are many reasons why some industries celebrate the way they do. Let’s dig deeper into why and how the holidays affect these industries.

A front desk worker interacting with a guest. There is a ribbon roll and wreath in the background.

Healthcare

Celebrating the holidays is in the best interest of everyone involved in the healthcare industry. Hospitals and medical centers can be stressful environments for anyone who has to handle working in this field or experience the customer side. Decorating the workplace is important for healthcare workers to make offices more festive. Seeing beautiful decorations like ribbons and ornaments helps everyone feel more at ease and have hope for better times to come.

Some decorating ideas the healthcare industry can consider is hanging ornaments with ribbons around workplace walls, desks and shelves. They could set up all the lovely holiday cards they have received from past patients. Name tags are also great to decorate with, as workers can put holiday symbols and stickers on them. Even though they are tiny details from a bigger picture, these creative ideas can help bring smiles to anyone’s face.

Ornaments and ribbons hanging along a pharmacy wall.

Education

Teachers can fully embrace the holidays in several ways. They can dress up in holiday attire. Students love earning and receiving holiday treats. Educators can use these treats to boost student engagement and motivate students to pay attention and strive for greatness. These are great ways to keep students engaged in learning because they are always excited to receive anything more than just a good grade.

Decorating classrooms and hallways is one of the most significant ways educators can bring the holiday experience to their students. Teachers’ classroom decorations encourage students to learn and keep them focused on their work. One way a teacher may decorate is by hanging ribbons around the classroom. More specifically, they can frame whiteboards or bulletin boards with ribbons. What makes these ribbons even more incredible is that, with 100 yards per roll, they can be used multiple times every time there is a holiday.

Another way educators can decorate for their students during the holidays is by using badge ribbons that spread holiday cheer on students’ desks or chairs. When the holiday season ends, teachers can either continue using them for years or hand them out to their students as keepsakes.

Holiday badge ribbons on student chairs.

Retail

One industry that knows how to celebrate the holidays is retail. They embrace the holidays in many aspects of their business. For example, they always bring out their holiday products weeks before the season starts. They do that because they want to make sure their customers have their holiday needs met before the actual holiday begins. Stores may change their hours to reflect holiday times to make the most of the season.

Marketing campaigns are focused heavily on the holiday experience in the retail industry. This is a great way to make sure their customers know they can go to them for their holiday needs. By using inside store advertising, social media and email campaigns, businesses make sure to get their holiday campaigns to their customers so they can attract more people and increase sales.

The retail industry takes advantage of the festive season by launching holiday promotions and sales. Businesses can promote deals by using Custom Top Ribbons attached to products or around stores. This is a great way to promote sales as it stands in for employees so they do not have to inform every customer. Businesses can consider giving special discounts to customers who mention these ribbons to make their sales even more special.

Custom Top Ribbons attached to handbag.

Improving Your Holiday Experience

The holiday season is in full effect. Many industries have the opportunity to take advantage of the festivities with decorations, marketing campaigns and more. These are all means for any business to stay updated with trends, customer needs and decorating. The holidays can be a stressful time for all. So, it is important to keep in mind why businesses do what they do. Customers are on the top of everyone’s minds, as they all want the best for everyone during the holiday season.

If you want to learn more about how different industries experience the holidays and creative ribbon uses for your business’ holiday campaigns, we have your back at www.personalized-ribbons.com.

Education Continues To Celebrate Excellence

Due to Coller Industries Incorporated’s continual support and donations, we were able to be a part of the “Excel Evening of Honors” on April 13th. Granite Education Foundation presents awards each year to exceptional teachers and administrators working in their district.

It all starts with the smallest of donations: TIME.

Since Granite Education Foundation’s inception in 1988, educator recognition and support has been a key priority. The Excel Awards are a prestigious honor given to the top 10 educators of Granite School District and has been sponsored by Granite Education Foundation since the beginning. Students, administrators, parents and colleagues nominate educators that exemplify the values of Granite School District.

coller industries enjoys giving back to our community through donations to granite education foundation

“Watching the videos of each teacher and their stories and how they make a difference in the kid’s lives was the best part of the evening,” Hannah, Customer Service Manager and Coller Industries Incorporated, said.

Being a professional educator isn’t an easy job. Sometimes it can even be a thankless job. But, thanks to these amazing teachers and administrators, public education continues to excel.

Each year, GEF supporters gather to recognize outstanding teachers, administrators and community members whose personal commitment and contribution impacts 68,000 students in the Granite School District. The Excel Award is bestowed upon nine teachers and one administrator that have been nominated by school administrators, colleagues or students.

Here are the 2018 Excel Award winners.
Congratulations to these incredible educators!

the 2018 granite education foundation excel award winners(Top to bottom; left to right.)

Leah Tarrant – Taylorsville High School
Lori Lindford – Bennion Elementary
Jill Thackeray – Skyline High School
Jodi Larson – Upland Terrace School
Stephanie Varoz – Crestview Elementary
Amy Winder – Elk Run Elementary
Katie Pearce – Rolling Meadows Elementary
Brandon Kerby – Cyprus High School
Janice Wayman – Hartvigsen School
Archer Birrell – Hillside Elementary

These individuals are then put through a rigorous review and observation process by experienced education specialists who ultimately identify 10 teachers and administrators from all over the district. In mid April, up to 300 individuals from Granite School District, supporting businesses, community members, and local leaders gather to recognize and honor these 10 winners in the Night of Honors a dinner and award ceremony.

As Coller Industries makes generous donations each year to the foundation, we were able to attend this gala not only as distinguished guests but also as an award presenter. After explaining Coller Industries to the attendees, Hannah proudly presented Archer Birrell, a 3rd-grade teacher at Hillside Elementary, with his Excel Award.

While our role is small in comparison to each of these educators, we are beyond happy that we get to take part in this fantastic award opportunity. In a nutshell, “We donate money for clothes and shoes for the kids in the Granite School District. Then we get to honor these great teachers for their excellent work by presenting the award on behalf of Coller Industries and the Granite Education Foundation,” Hannah said.

customer donations coller industries and granite education foundation excel awards galaThe Granite Education Foundation Excel Award

Each Excel Award recipient received a sculpture, designed by local Utah sculptor Matt Glenn. This sculpture comes in two parts. The bottom portion has the four Granite Education Foundation hand icons from their logo. Each hand symbolized educate, give, volunteer and advocate. The top portion is a student’s hand reaching for a teacher’s hand. This piece is also reversible so that the teacher’s hand is extending up toward the student’s hand.

“Educational awards, such as the GEF Excel Award, are awesome because children are the future,” Hannah said. “Teachers are important and deserve this recognition for what they do for our children.”

And, we agree. These teachers are very deserving of this prestigious award. We want to thank these teachers and all the others who work endlessly for the welfare of our kids. You all make a huge difference!

Creating Unity Through Education

Granite Education Foundation (GEF) and Coller Industries Incorporated are working together, again!

Due to our donations and continual support, Granite Education Foundation invited Coller Industries to attend this year’s Excel Evening of Honors. The “EXCEL Evening of Honors” was held on April 21st.

Granite Education Foundation (GEF) and Coller Industries Incorporated are working together, again!Every year, Granite Education Foundation supporters gather to recognize outstanding teachers, administrators and community members whose personal commitment and contribution impacts 67,000 students in the Granite School District.

The annual EXCEL Award publicly honors and recognizes educators who raise the bar of their profession. The award recognizes teaching that incites intellectual curiosity in students, engages them thoroughly in the enterprise of learning, and has a lifelong impact.

Winners are nominated by school administrators, parents, colleagues and students through an intensive application process. A selection committee then reviews each application. Members of this Excel Selection Committee then surprise each winner at their school with the announcement. This interaction was recorded and shared at the presentation event.

The committee received over a thousand nominations and had to select only ten winners.

Gary Coller, President of Coller Industries, said, “I look forward to this every year, it’s an honor to be around great educators and dedicated professionals who support them. (With ten great teachers honored), and I was able to present an award to a teacher whose mother has also been recognized as a teacher of the year.”

Granite Education Foundation (GEF) and Coller Industries Incorporated are working together, again!Emily Lehnardt believes that children are perfect candidates for her to “awaken” the human spirit to love life-long learning. She feels children exude great curiosity and seemingly limitless creativity.

Emily applies Dr. Einstein’s teaching philosophy in her classroom. She believes Dr. Einstein lived in creative expression and knowledge. His creativity through experiments gave the world cutting-edge information.

“Ms. Lehnardt is exactly what my son needed in first grade. Her passion for teaching and learning shines through and really inspired him to love going to school.” -Parent

Ramona Braunberger, Marketing Manager for Coller Industries, said, “Emily is the educator you want (for your child). It is very apparent that she cares about the kids and is excited about teaching.”

During the gala, each winner received a special “Excel Award,” a gift basket, a monetary award, and other generous gifts to recognize their achievements.

“Every year we have the phenomenal opportunity to recognize educators who exemplify the values and mission of Granite School District,” said Dr. Martin W. Bates, Granite School District Superintendent.

“These individuals have demonstrated exceptional teaching skills and a commitment to student success. In addition, they provide meaningful contributions to their school community, and are constantly seeking ways to improve the educational experience of their students,” said Dr. Bates.

Congratulations to the 2017 GEF Excel Winners!

Emily Lehnardt – Cottonwood Elementary
Sheri Coats – Armstrong Academy
Sarah Wilson – South Kearns Elementary
Zachary Layton – Eisenhower Jr High
Wendee Johnston – Whittier Elementary
Yvonne Miller – Fremont Elementary
Rhonda Small-Oakes – Hartvigsen
Anita Ardi – Churchill Jr High
Callah Morrey – West Kearns Elementary
Craig Stauffer – Hunter High

Why Honor Teachers?

Research shows that students with high-performing teachers can progress three times as fast as students with low-performing teachers. Effective educators can influence the climate of the entire school. Their commitment, passion, expertise, and creativity are infectious. Students love them because they make learning fun and engaging. Administrators love them because they get results. Parents love them because they affirm their student’s potential.

In the face of increasing class sizes and insufficient funding and resources, the majority of Granite District teachers are dipping into their own pockets and their own time to bridge the gap for their students. Educators are finding progressive and engaging solutions to institutional problems and changing the world, one child at a time.

Coller Industries is proud to be a part of this process. While our role is small in comparison to these educators, we are still happy that we get to take part. Our children’s education has a direct impact on our business as we like to focus on working in our community. Helping out our local community is a large part of what defines the generosity of Coller Industries Incorporated.

Granite Education Foundation (GEF) and Coller Industries Incorporated are working together, again!