What Do You Think?
In case you haven’t already heard, on Dec. 9, the color experts at Pantone, announced PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating as the Pantone Colors of the Year for 2021.
Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power, while Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements that are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. 
“The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.”
What do you think of Pantone’s pick for 2021? Drop me a line at thodson@greatamericanpublish.com and let me know.
ICYMI
If you missed our latest webinar on “Outlook 2021: What to Expect from the Economy, the Consumer and Our Legislators” presented by Charlie Hall, Craig Regelbrugge and Bridget Behe, you can now access the archived version on our website.
Just go to www.gpnmag.com/edwebinar to hear what Bridget, Charlie and Craig had to say about many of the consumer, economic and political issues that our industry will face in 2021.
Walmart, the Salvation Army Giving Campaigns Go Virtual
During the holidays, Walmart and the Salvation Army work together through two giving programs – the Red Kettle and Angel Tree campaigns. Because of the pandemic, they’ve had to find innovative ways to help people in need. To keep customers safe, Walmart and the Salvation Army are adding these campaigns to new, virtual platforms. In addition to dropping spare change into the Red Kettles outside stores, customers who shop Walmart.com and the Walmart app can now round up their total to the nearest dollar amount. The leftover change will be donated to the Salvation Army and distributed based on the donor’s billing ZIP code and benefit the Salvation Army location serving that community.
Meijer Expands Holiday Tradition
While many holiday celebrations are looking different in 2020, Meijer has continued its Very Merry Meijer tradition of surprising a customer in each of its stores across the Midwest with a $1,000 Meijer shopping spree. In its seventh year, the retailer has expanded its tradition to surprise 1,300 additional customers with $100 gift cards. “Each year we look forward to spreading holiday cheer and showing our customers and team members our appreciation through this event, and 2020 was no exception,” said Executive Chairman Hank Meijer.
Home Depot Foundation Provides Holiday Surprise for Vets
Last week, the Home Depot Foundation surprised 24 veterans in the Atlanta area by providing them with a free month of rental assistance along with other home care kits for the holidays. According to WSB-TV, representatives of the Home Depot Foundation along with Quest Communities paid a visit to residents of Quest Veterans Village and delivered kits that included clothing, shoes, housewares, grocer gift cards and other essentials. Earlier this month the Foundation let the vets know that it would be helping pay their December rent. In 2011, the Foundation provided a grant to help build the Quest Veterans Village and has continued to support the affordable housing unit ever since.
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