The number one rule of parenting is “sleep when your children are sleeping.” My boys have been asleep for hours and I can’t go to bed without writing my thoughts down while they’re still fresh. I had what I considered to be a really funny Leap Day post (I know, I’m my own biggest fan) scheduled for today, but even if I don’t publish it for another four years, that’s the the way it needs to be. Today’s message is too important to delay.
The giant pile of Pixar swag you see in the photo above, that was sent to us in a FedEx box yesterday, for free.
It wasn’t part of a sponsorship deal.
They didn’t ask me to blog about their new movie coming out this summer. Like they need the publicity, right?
They didn’t even ask me to tell my neighbors about it.
They simply included a note that said the following:
ENJOY! LOVE, YOUR PIXAR FAMILY
After I wrote this post about a month ago, I was overwhelmed by the Pixar employees who took the time to stop here and leave a comment, thanking me for sharing my son’s experience. There weren’t any follow-up requests or pitches for sharing it in a press release. The employees simply showed up and said “thank you.”
It was seriously a joy for me to know that the open letter I wrote to the Pixar family ended up in front of their eyes. They were the intended audience and the magical powers of the interwebs helped my words reach them.
Then, a day or two after the post went live, Wendy emailed me asking for my mailing address because Pixar wanted to send us a “gift package”. I really didn’t know what to expect. We traded a few emails and she asked for our shirt sizes. Being the major Pixar junkies that we are, we were incredibly stoked to be getting some new gear to sport around town.
Wendy’s final email to me closed with the following:
Congratulations on your newborn, just wait till you see the babe clothes, so cute!
It is a privilege to be able to connect with you and your family and show you our affection.
After offering us this incredibly generous gift for simply sharing our story, they were then telling me that they were the privileged ones?!
*Jaw hits floor*
They weren’t done.
Not by a long shot.
Yesterday when the package arrived I nearly threw my back out lifting it to the kitchen table. The giant brown box was full of so much swag. There was even more than what you can see in the picture up top.
Notwithstanding the everlasting impact their art has had on my son, they felt like they still hadn’t done enough.
The more I thought about what they had done, the more I realized how genuine the gesture really was. This wasn’t even a great customer service story. It was so much more than that. Sure, we’ve bought all their movies, and toys, etc., but there was no business transaction involved in this exchange. It was truly the kind of gift that you’d send to a family member to let them know you care. It was real, and pure, and everything we’ve come to never expect from a corporation.
They used the word “family” perfectly.
We truly felt a part of the Pixar family. That kind of relationship with a business is something most people will wait 20 Leap Years to experience. Some never will.
Today I want to see if we can make Pixar hear us again. This type of engagement with the “regular people” of the world needs to be recognized and encouraged.
Can you help me?
This is a rough idea so if you can think of a way to make it better, please let me know. Anything we can do to make them feel more appreciated would be amazing.
Today will you take a picture of yourself or your kids with one of your favorite Pixar products in hand, and share it on social media somewhere? It can be a DVD or an action figure or a stuffed animal.
If for some reason you don’t have something from Pixar handy, taking a photo of a nice hand written thank you note would also be cool.
The most important part of all of this is to make sure we put it in front of their eyes.
On Twitter I’d love to use the #PixarCares hashtag with a mention of their @DisneyPixar twitter account.
If you post it to Facebook please remember to tag their page!
I want them to feel an impact similar to the one they’ve made on my family; which is tsunami-like!
Will you ramp up this effort with me on this special 29th day of February? Let’s make them “Leap” with happiness today!
(Sorry for the bad pun. Seriously though, Pixar is incredible and any help you can spare to send good vibes their way would be so very much appreciated).
38 Responses to Pixar Cares
Miz February 29, 2012
GREAT IDEA.
Ewa February 29, 2012
Now I like Pixar even more.
Nicole February 29, 2012
wow i’m floored that they went above and beyond. that is so heart warming.
Jody - Fit at 54 February 29, 2012
Love & will help & tweet!!!
Jenny February 29, 2012
You spew forth awesomeness and naturally are rewarded. GO YOU. GO PIXAR. They are definitely giving me the warm fuzzies.
suzanne February 29, 2012
Wow! I had tears in my eyes when I read your original post last month. Here I am again with more tears in my eyes.
What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Mish February 29, 2012
I love good companies and good people. The human aspect to business is so often lost. What a blessing!
Yum Yucky February 29, 2012
Mish, you hit the nail on its forehead!
Alan Ali February 29, 2012
This is just beautiful.
Tricia Nelson February 29, 2012
This is awesome! We love Pixar! I’ll be taking a pic ad posting it today! Nice work, Ryan!
Yum Yucky February 29, 2012
Will definitely spread the love! Pixar is huge in our house. Will snap a pic and share this evening! (what they did for your family is awesome)
Joyce Cherrier February 29, 2012
Just awesome. I’ll be spreading the love for sure!
Jen, a priorfatgirl February 29, 2012
The best thing a brand can do is be genuine. They can poor as much money as they want into massive advertising campaigns but it’s when they slow down and care, like Pixar did, that they really connect with us.
I’m off to spread this post on Twitter!
Linda @ Lemons February 29, 2012
Wonderful post, and the original one brought tears to my eyes. My son, who is now 21, dressed up as Buzz Lightyear for Halloween when he was 6. I handmade his costume. I’d love to post it, I just have to figure how to add the tag to Pixar’s page, and how to post photos on twitter!
Some other interesting things are that my son’s name is Andy, and my daughter is the same age as the Andy in the movie, and went off to college the same year he did. I still have not seen Toy Story 3 because it was so sad when my daughter left for school, and I know I would be sad seeing Andy (the Andy in the movie) leave also.
ryan February 29, 2012
Hi Linda!
To tag a page on Facebook just type the @ symbol and then start typing the page name and it will come up.
If you’d like, you can email me the photo and I’ll be happy to share it out!
Thank you so much!!
Linda @ Lemons February 29, 2012
Thanks Ryan, I got it to work. This is great!
Kyra February 29, 2012
What a beautiful story. I have no picture to share, but I will share that I watched the last half of Toy Story 2 at a home theater store while my husband was looking at big TVs. I sat there, crying, in the store, while watching this movie. Wonderful movies, wonderful company.
Kyra February 29, 2012
That would be Toy Story 3. My bad. Just re-read your original post. I think I’m crying as much as I did watching TS3.
Lisa/MommyMo February 29, 2012
I cried with the original post and this one made me cry, too! Thank you Pixar!!!!
Trish @I_am_Succeeding February 29, 2012
That is awesome and so refreshing indeed. As soon as the kids get home from school we will get this done!
I love that a company we too already love has just added a real human dimension to them.
Connie Weiss February 29, 2012
That is so cool!
I love when a company has great customer service and shows it.
*LyndiLou* February 29, 2012
Wow. This is so, SO touching! I’m so glad Pixar heard your genuine thanks and I’m amazed at their equally genuine response! Pixar has always been a favorite at our place, but its spot in my heart has just become permanent.
Tara February 29, 2012
I wanted to type something here but can’t.
Too choked up.
Love you.
Jessica February 29, 2012
on it!!
Craig February 29, 2012
Wendy has seen this. I thought you’d want to know.
We toys see eve-ry-thing!“
ryan February 29, 2012
Thank you Craig! That comment brought joy to my heart and scared the hell out of me at the same time
Kia February 29, 2012
I love this! I love when LIFE happens and it is not-premeditated or sponsored but genuine between you and a brand. I am brand loyal to a few companies because their products have made an impact on my family and that is something genuine that no PR firm can solicit. As a family we’ll join in tonight with some sort of picture
Gaela February 29, 2012
I always thought I knew how great Pixar had to be, now I have reassurance! Love them even more now!
Pixar has help to create some of awesome memories and I love all their movies and the emotions connected to them!
Thank you for this great article!
Love u Pixar!
Anne P February 29, 2012
What an awesome company. Pixar just got some major points from me!
Meredith Allison February 29, 2012
You know a company has done good when what they’ve done for someone else makes *you* happy! I love this & can’t wait for my son to get home so I can tweet my own #PixarCares photo. Just awesome!
Molly Nitka February 29, 2012
This is sooooooo awesome! It makes me love pixar THAT much more than I already do. What a great act of generosity and kindness.
Wine Harlots February 29, 2012
You moved me to tears with your story and the Pixar response. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I wish all the best for you and your family.
Cheers,
Nannette Eaton
lissa February 29, 2012
I love when companies truly care and go out of their way to show it! Much deserved, Ryan!
Thea @ It's Me Vs. Me March 1, 2012
This is beyond awesome! What an amazing company.
lynne @lgsmash March 2, 2012
too cool – it really is amazing when companies step out of their corporate role and show personality and thoughtfulness. i love that you said ‘everything we’ve come to never expect from a corporation’. they blew it out of the park with this touching gesture. it gives me the warm fuzzies inside!