Valentine’s Day is the number one, busiest time of year for Vermont Teddy Bear and our two sister companies – The PajamaGram Company and Calyx Flowers. As we gear up for another busy season, or “peak” as the main holidays (Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Christmas) are dubbed around here, I’ve heard some ask how we get it done. How do we answer all those phone calls? How do we get those thousands upon thousands of packages out the door? How can we still guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day for those who wait until the day before to order? Part of how we “get r done” is something that was once called “Turn the Wallz” (or TTW), but is now called SOS, which means “Share Our Staff.” Although the acronym is different, the definition remains the same. Essentially it means that everyone here - from our graphic designers to our accountants to our corporate sales folks to our vice president of marketing - is “cross trained” so-to-speak to fulfill any task we may be called up to do. If our phone lines are showing a queue, the page goes out over the intercom for SOS people to report to the contact center to answer phones and take orders. If help is needed in order fulfillment, we run over to assist in art and embroidery, pack pajamas, dress Bears, QC packages, or simply run the taping machine. Whatever needs to be done, together we get it done. Sure it can mean some pretty long hours and late, late nights, but when the holiday has passed and we think back to what we just made happen, there’s such a sense of camaraderie that’s built by the fact that we made it through once again…and we made it through together. So…if you’re looking for a place to get all of your Valentine’s Day gifts, remember that when you call up Vermont Teddy Bear, PajamaGram, or Calyx Flowers, the person who answers the phone very well could be one of our vice presidents.