Weekend in Fargo

The brass at the Just Born candy company in Pennsylvania thought it had a great incentive for its sales staff- Increase your year-over-year sales by at least 4% and the company will spring for a vacation in Honolulu. If you don't meet that goal, the brass said, you still get a company-paid vacation...in Fargo, ND.  The sales force did increase sales. By 2 percent. (It may be my fault, I've sworn off marshmallow Peeps.) Good-Bye Honolulu, Hello Fargo!

Winter in North Dakota may sound like punishment, but the Just Born sales team seems to have had a good time in Fargo.  Read the full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101214/ap_on_re_us/us_aloha_fargo

For the record, the company has made the same "offer" to its sales team this year. If they meet their goal, it's off to Hawaii. If not, it's off to Rapid City, SD. Meanwhile, Just Born is getting a lot of media attention, a.k.a. free advertising. The sales department may be freezing, but the marketing department is doing handstands!